Keeping your livestock well-nourished is a crucial part of your farm's success. Hay feeders are pieces of equipment that can help you manage the food supply for your animals. Here is what you should know about these devices might benefit your operations.  

What Are They?

Hay feeders are large containers that allow your livestock to get to their food easily while keeping it off the ground. Feeders are often made from galvanized steel, which offers durability and rust-proof protection. The equipment comes in different styles, sizes, and configurations to accommodate your animals' sizes and feeding habits.  

How Do They Work?

Many styles have steel bars, pipes, or rods that allow cattle to access hay through the cage-like spaces. Feeders have a bottom that shields the hay from other materials that can contaminate the food. 

Adding a hay net to a feeder can slow the eating rate of the livestock while allowing them to have constant access to the food. Providing plenty of space around the feeder ensures multiple animals can get to the hay. Make sure there is a source of clean drinking water nearby for your livestock. 

What Benefits Do They Provide?

Hay feeders offer much greater efficiency compared to leaving the feed on the ground. They minimize hay waste, which saves you money. Animals who eat from hay bales on the ground can waste 57% of the food. Depending on the type of hay feeder you use, you might save 5% to 33% of hay waste. 

The equipment protects the food from weather conditions, such as rain, snow, and ground moisture. They lower the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal problems that animals, including horses, experience when they eat hay that is spoiled or contaminated by materials on the bare ground, such as feces or mold.

If you want steel hay feeders for your livestock, turn to Pipe Plus Inc. Based in Willow Springs, MO, this steel distributor has 25 years of experience and a track record of prompt and reliable service to Midwestern customers including in Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Iowa, Texas, and Kansas. The company offers pre-cut options and custom-design fabrications. Call them today at (417) 469-5292 to discuss your plans.