Back in the old days of the early 1990s I was part of a study conducted by a major horse feed manufacturer… one of the thoughts then was to lighten the feed bags from 50 pounds to 40 pounds which at that time in my life I thought was absurd.
But as age as progressed the thought of a 40 pound bags is sounding more appealing each time I unload and handle another ton of feed
The problem is that most manufacturers switched to 40lbs bags, but kept the price tag of a 50 lbs bag…
This is happening everywhere in your grocery store also. Cereal boxes, cans of tuna, etc. The packaging and price has stayed the same in many instances, but the contents weigh a lot less.
Back when I was in high school, rolled oats came in 100 lb bags, which I thought was perfectly reasonable. Now that I’m old and feeble, I’d be happy to have feed come in 40, or even 30 lb bags. But, I’m not sure that I would pay a premium price to get it. At least not yet. In another 5 years? Yeah, probably.
Agreed on the smaller package but same price thing. I find it kind of offensive - like they think we’re too stupid to notice that we’re getting less of the product for the same price.
I’m okay with 50lb feed bags (for now), and would also be okay with 40lb bags, if they were the same price per pound.
Yes, I’ve been boycotting M&Ms since they did this about a year ago (I like the peanut ones as a horse show snack). Except for the reduced price after holiday sales:).
50 lbs of feed I can handle (for now), although I wouldn’t complain about getting stall dry in 40 lb bags–I find them harder to carry.
Concrete mix comes in 80# bags.
For a while now, they also have a 40# option.
We still buy the pallets of 80# ones, but starting to consider the 40#.
May be worth at any price, when we are not supposed to lift the bigger ones any more.
That would be similar with horse feed, except that 50# is not that much more than 40#.
I think I’d end up making more frequent trips to the feedstore.
10# might not seem like much, but it will for sure make my feed bins empty quicker.
I transport the 50# bags on a handcart to my bins (galvanized cans on pallets) then hefting them to empty is a bit easier.
Open the seam on top, one mighty LIFT! & pour into bins.
My feedstore does have the option of buying a smaller bag as they mix their own grains.
50# lasts me 2wks+, so I am just in the habit of buying in this bulk amount.
I feed whole oats & could purchase two 25# bags, not sure if there would be a pricing difference, but I’ll ask.
The 40 pound bags are easier to carry, sure. That does not mean I like the idea that they have put almost everything in a 40 pound bag now (that we pay more for).
If their true goal was to make it easier for people to carry (and not lower the amount while charging the same price) they would have made something like 25 pound bags where a person can buy two and get the same amount of grain.
As rule the bigger the package, within limits, the more economical it is to sell and deliver the product. If the package gets smaller the overhead goes up. Maybe not 20% but something!!! 
Yes, my aging back would like to see 40 pound bags.
G.
Yeah, I like this idea. 25 lb is far more attractive–the grain bins that fit 100#s well can still fit 100#s (or other multiples of 50#) without having open bags lying about.
The most PITA part of grain for me is pulling the bags out of where we store them and filling the can when it’s empty. 40# bags mean that happens more often, UGH.
Not like anyone will ever market a 25# bag that is comparable in price ($/#) to a 50# bag :lol:
the only cost increase would be the extra bag … 5 rather than 4 for 200 pounds… during the discussions that were being held by the manufacturer that I attended the increased cost of the bag was nominal …a ton would be 50 bags on a pallet verses 40
pricing would be determined at the point of sale
The reason for those meetings back in the early 1990s was to have round able discussions on how to maintain the number of horse owners as the trend was decreasing … which concerned the feed manufacturers
I actively hate the 40 lb bags because they are less convenient to fill the trash cans I use for feed storage but also I end up having to pay to dispose of the damn bags. The 50# bags are a bit more reusable as trash bags etc.
I did discover a miracle, though. The dump and the local trash pickup service are run by different companies, and the trash pickup says we can put the feed bags in recycle. This has more than paid for the cost of having the trash picked up… for now! I keep fearing they’ll get wise to this any day.
Not sure about that as it sure would be nice as introductory bag size to try a feed … and could be sold to the miniature horse market :lol:
I buy Dawn dishwashing stuff in the smallest bottles… I believe its 6 oz, the per oz cost is less than what is in the better bottles
I cant’ be your friend… Or maybe I NEEEDDD to be your friend. 
depending on how you look at it.
is there a 40# bag on the market?.. I really haven’t been shopping about as we have been using the same feed for decades
Large quantities of things are sold in 40 pounds bags now. Almost all premium feeds are sold in 40 pounds bags. Heck, even the alfalfa pellets I normally buy are now a 40 pound bag.
Progressive’s RB comes in 40 lb bags. I don’t use it but looked at it. Not sure of any others. The Tribute and Ultium are still 50.
you can buy M&Ms in bulk… 25 pound bags are available
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/mms-whole-topping-25-lb/711MMSWHL.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GoogleShopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImsmJz8-C2QIVVSSBCh0jrAWiEAQYASABEgJqxPD_BwE
Obviously I need to be your friend… [immediately starts searching online…]
You just did a dangerous thing by showing me that! I’d prbly eat the whole thing in a week if nobody stopped me.
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