Do your hay bales ever weigh what the dealer claims?

[Scribbler]

I feel like I’ve hardly ever had a batch of hay where the bales weigh as much as they were sold as.

I weigh the hay my horse is fed, snd i log the amoubt each day, so at the end of the bale I can add up the feedings.

Right now I have some nice 3 string Timothy that’s sold at 18 bales to the ton so a bale should be 110 lbs. But we have finished the 4th bale and are averaging around 98 lbs which should be 20 bales to the ton.

I know the hay dealers weigh the whole truck to get an average weight, and he’d probably say some bales must weight let’s say 120 to average out. But Im betting they don’t.

Anyhow, this has been true of almost all hay and hay dealers I’ve used since I started weighing my hay probably 6 years ago.

I was wondering if hay changes in weight as it sits in the dealer’s barn, gets drier? Or is their initial weighing a bit crude and inaccurate? Or is it just a universal little “thumb on the scales” small scale cheat?

[Amy3996]

I purchase by the bale, two-string square bales. In the last batch of first cutting timothy, they were sold to me as 45-50lb bales, they were probably more like 35-40 when I actually weighed them out. That said, my BO purchased second cutting grass/alfalfa mix from the same supplier. He marketed those bales as being 50-60lbs, and when we checked those, the selling weight was accurate. I noticed that some of the timothy bales were quite loosely baled, so that may have contributed to the discrepancy. The grass/alfalfa mix bales are really densely packed. It takes work most of the time just to get the scissors underneath the twine to open up a bale. I don’t think there’s any trickery or anything behind what my hay guy says - he’s always been level with me about the pricing and quality of the different types of hay he has for sale. I’ve had no complaints. I’m sure there are some (probably a lot) of hay suppliers who “fudge” their bale weights. I imagine there would probably be some change in weight as the hay composition deteriorates the longer it’s stored.

[Tory]

First off let me say that if I truly thought that someone I was purchasing hay from was intentionally screwing me, I would get a new supplier.

I bale my own hay on my farm and there are several reasons why the bales of hay differ in weight.No piece of land is exactly equal. Some parts of the field that I hay are a little wetter and other parts are a bit drier and some are a perfect balance of wet/dry. This will effect the growth of my pasture. Before and after cutting I have noticed that some places have a thicker growth of grass. I bale square bales and on average they should weigh approximately 55 lbs (two string).

But in reality my bales vary from 40-70lbs. I feed in the slow-feed hay nets and weigh them out daily. The bales that are heavier come from the part of my field where the grass grows very dense and seems to be a bit taller. And the lightest bales are very loose and come from the part of the field that is typically shorter and not as dense.

I would continue keeping track of the bale weights and notify your supplier. Before I started using my own fields for hay I never had a problem with a hay supplier wanting to make things right. Whether it was crediting me for moldy, dusty or light bales.

[JB]

Unless they are compressed bales which, afaik, are pretty consistent, it’s too hard to get bales the same weight.

A baler can be set on a weight setting, but if the hay is drier and floofier than normal, size will trump weight at some point. If the baler isn’t packing the hay as tightly, the same size bale will weigh less. I get large rounds that are from a baler set at 1000lb, but it’s clear that some are lighter even though they might be physically bigger than a slightly smaller, but obviously heavier bale.

It is much better if you can buy in bulk where, as you say, the truckload is weighed and you know you’re getting X tons,so at least you know how much you’re paying per ton.

[Simkie]

This is why I buy hay by weight. Not the whole truckload weighed when delivered to the hay guy and divided by number of bales…truck is loaded for me and weighed. TELL ME how much hay I’m getting in pounds and what the price per ton is, and I’ll write that check. (“I’d like a scale ticket” seems to be the magic phase to convey this, btw.)

This is pretty standard farther west. Guys here are surprised I want to purchase this way. But it’s still possible.

I also weigh my own bales pretty regularly to know where I sit, particularly if several feel light or heavy coming out of the loft.

If I had to pay by the bale, I’d sorely tempted to weigh out some number at time of delivery and discuss.

[Libby2563]

My experience here has been that dealers don’t pay much attention to weight. Buying by the bale seems most common. I’ve used quite a few different suppliers and when I ask them how much their bales weigh I usually get an answer like, “Oh, they’re a pretty standard size,” which isn’t very helpful. Two-string small bales predominate here so I think “standard” should be about 50 lb but there’s definitely a lot of variation.

Once I paid the same price per bale for two deliveries and found that the first batch weighed 45-50/bale but the second was only 30-35/bale. I was unhappy and contacted the dealer. He basically said, “Oh well, that’s the price.” I did not buy from him again.

More recently I declined to buy some really lovely hay because my current dealer wanted the same price for it as bales that weighed 50% more. I mentioned the weight difference to him and he was understanding of me not choosing to buy it but also would not negotiate the price. He moves hay very quickly and I’m sure he had no problem selling the light bales at the full price.

I would love to buy by the lb instead.

[warriorhorse]

Bales we buy are consistent in weight 1000 to 1,100 pounds once in a while one will weigh 945 but not very often. Bales are tightly wrapped won’t buy sloppy wrapped bales. Been the square bale route and they were way to inconsistent in weights. 50lb bales were anywhere from 30 to 35 lbs some were 45 some were 50. Found square bales way more inconsistent in weights, then round bales have been. Nice feeding big rounds put it in feeder done for a month.

[Scribbler]

I can’t store more than about a ton and a half maximum, I’m always getting part of a larger load delivered to our self board barn. So a scale ticket wouldn’t work. But that’s a great tip for if I’m ever in a position to be buying a truck load at once.

The hay is priced by the ton but then the dealer counts it out by the bale. I will raise it with him when I have enough bales weighed to be feel secure in what I’m saying.

Lots of hay is just priced by the bale, and sometimes the dealer quite likely has no idea what they weigh, especially the small time guys that pick up a load in a buddy’s field for $5 a bale and deliver it to the barn at $10 a bale. Those are the so-called 50 to 60 lb bales that end up averaging 43 lbs each

I don’t think it’s deliberate cheating but it’s also true very few buyers are in a position to verify the individual bake weight.

[Simkie]

@Scribbler

I don’t think it’s deliberate cheating but it’s also true very few buyers are in a position to verify the individual bake weight.

I’m curious why you’d say that?

Anyone can spend forty bucks on a scale and weigh their bales. I use this one.

[buck22]

Nope, never had small square bales weigh what the hay supplier says they will. Never. Not once. And its so inconvenient as I feed by weight too, and therefore plan my buying and storage accordingly. Hate the prospect of coming up short because 100 squares of 30# takes up the same amount of effort and room as 100 squares of 45.

Everyone claims 50# as standard, the reality is 25-40 average - if I get a load consistently ~45 I feel like I hit the lottery.

I expect a 5-10lb swing, but geeze, so many are really off! Not by a bale or two either, the average for the entire load is almost always 25% less than claimed weight. Suppliers that claim 70lbs are usually in the 40-50 range, but finding that is really rare where I am.

I chalk it up to men always thinking things are bigger than they really are.

Suppose its time to find some lady hay farmers!

[16_Hands]

My hay guy sells by the bale and his average between 85 to 95 lbs each. Of course there is some variation at time, but for the most the averages hold.

Sidebar: Interesting for me is the weight variation between regions. Here on the west coast, hay is most often as what is stated above - 85 - 95 lbs per bale. Unless you’re getting local hay, then they are much smaller, in the 40 lb range. But in the midwest / eastern states, the 40 - 50 lb. range is normal weight.

[Scribbler]

@Simkie

I’m curious why you’d say that?

Anyone can spend forty bucks on a scale and weigh their bales. I use this one.

Well, because most buyers don’t bother

And I certainly couldn’t weigh my 97 lb 3 strings whole. I can’t even move them. Dealer stacks them in my loft and they stay where he puts them!

I weigh my feedings and I log them as part of monitoring my horse’s weight. I have a big IKEA shopping bag and a fish scale (like a luggage scale, similar to what you link to) and a time drop feeder.

Most folks here don’t weigh their feedings (yes, most horses here are tending to be overweight) and of the few that do, I’m not sure if any of them log their daily weights so they can add up the actual weights at the end of each bale.

[JB]

I’d say more buyers than not are quite able to weigh individual bales, since it seems the majority of hay in the US is sold as small squares in the 30-50lb range.

Certain areas have bigger small bales that many people, especially women, can’t lift on a per-bale basis (but could absolutely open a bale and weigh halves), or those large 3-string bales that few people, if any, can lift. And there are those who have rounds.

It’s just that most people don’t care to.

[vineyridge]

Down here if you ask hay suppliers to individuals if they will sell by the ton, they laugh at you.

[tabula_rashah]

I’m not sure I’ve ever bought by weight- always by the bale. Although the guy I get smalls from tells me what his weigh and they are pretty spot on- 60 to 70 lbs(big for east coast bale).

[warriorhorse]

Reason i won’t do square bales to much varying in weights. And bales are sold by the bale whether squares or round bales. When hay guy says bales are 1000 to 1, 100 that’s what they are. Rather pay 25$ for a round then 5$ for a skimpy square bale. Depends on hay supplier on if they are honest with weight of bales. I buy directly off the field from guy who bales hay, no middle man. Hay is 5$ to 10$ dollars cheaper if bought right out of field after it’s baled, that’s round bales.

[Guilherme]

@Scribbler

I can’t store more than about a ton and a half maximum, I’m always getting part of a larger load delivered to our self board barn. So a scale ticket wouldn’t work. But that’s a great tip for if I’m ever in a position to be buying a truck load at once.

The hay is priced by the ton but then the dealer counts it out by the bale. I will raise it with him when I have enough bales weighed to be feel secure in what I’m saying.

Lots of hay is just priced by the bale, and sometimes the dealer quite likely has no idea what they weigh, especially the small time guys that pick up a load in a buddy’s field for $5 a bale and deliver it to the barn at $10 a bale. Those are the so-called 50 to 60 lb bales that end up averaging 43 lbs each

I don’t think it’s deliberate cheating but it’s also true very few buyers are in a position to verify the individual bake weight.

If you go to a quality butcher and buy something by the pound you’ll note that they will put the meat on the scale and then very clearly remove their hands. That’s so you don’t get “15 ounces of meat and one ounce of thumb.” A 15-20 pound short on a 1000 pound bale doesn’t mean much unless you’re selling a several tons of bales. Then it can mean a lot.

The only way to really protect yourself from this little bit of scamming is to buy by the load and weigh the truck/trailer before and after loading. Or deal with a seller you KNOW is not “thumbing” his product.

G.

[Simkie]

@Scribbler

Well, because most buyers don’t bother

Unwilling is a lot different than unable :lol:

And I certainly couldn’t weigh my 97 lb 3 strings whole. I can’t even move them. Dealer stacks them in my loft and they stay where he puts them!

Really? I don’t consider myself terribly strong, and I shove my big bales out of the loft and then move them into the feed room every week. If I’m weighing several, I rig up the tractor so I can lift with the bucket, but I’ve weighed bales by hand (lifting the bale up to the hook of the scale) that have been anywhere from 85 - 130 lbs. It’s hard but not impossible (although that 130 # bale left me puffing a bit!) It would be easy with two people. You could even rig some sort of pulley system, if you wanted.

All I’m saying is that if bale weight matters, there are absolutely ways to weigh the bales. Even rounds or big squares…if you’re picking them up in the back of your truck, hit the truck scale on the way and on the way back.

[Scribbler]

@Simkie

Unwilling is a lot different than unable :lol:

Really? I don’t consider myself terribly strong, and I shove my big bales out of the loft and then move them into the feed room every week. If I’m weighing several, I rig up the tractor so I can lift with the bucket, but I’ve weighed bales by hand (lifting the bale up to the hook of the scale) that have been anywhere from 85 - 130 lbs. It’s hard but not impossible (although that 130 # bale left me puffing a bit!) It would be easy with two people. You could even rig some sort of pulley system, if you wanted.

All I’m saying is that if bale weight matters, there are absolutely ways to weigh the bales. Even rounds or big squares…if you’re picking them up in the back of your truck, hit the truck scale on the way and on the way back.

Well, I cannot shift a 100 lb bale on my own, and at my age do not expect to ever accomplish that and I do not have access to a tractor.

I am pretty much maxed out at carrying 50 lbs. Two of us on a 100 lb bale is a big struggle too.

I do however manage to get the weight of a bale by measuring and recording my daily feedings.

As far as buying round bales as another poster suggested, that’s only really possible for a free feed paddock or pasture setup. For sure it is more economical in round bales but they aren’t an option for storing hay in a loft and measuring out by the flake.

When I have bought hay out of the field in my truck it’s always been pay per bale, so weight is not claimed. There are no weigh scales on my normal routes, but even if there were, I’d have to pay the asking price before I could go weigh it! No room for bargaining there.

[dani0303]

I buy 3x3x8 bales of grass hay that are advertised at 800lbs. The 2 that I’ve weighed (with a truck scale while in the bed of my picked) were 750lbs and 825lbs.

My small squares that I have average about 40-50lbs and that’s what they’re advertised at.