"Belted" Hay Feeder Reduces Waste

Belted Hay Feeder Reduces Waste LIVESTOCK Beef Bill Kurtz didn’t like watching hay go to waste around the outside of his round bale feeder Cattle would pull large amounts of hay out which would get stepped on and wasted So he came up with the idea of adding belts to his bale feeder “It’s based on the idea that cattle can put their heads through smaller openings than they can back out of The animal can’t reach down and bury its head in the hay then pull out large amounts ” says Kurtz who a few years ago came up with another unique “waste less” horse feeder that was featured in FARM SHOW Vol 31 No 4 The new patent pending feeder tapers in toward the top and has a 2-ft high metal skirt at the bottom Above the skirt are a series of 12-in wide rubber belts each attached to a 1 1/2-in wide steel upright There’s about 8 in of space between the belts “The belting design allows the use of a narrow opening that helps contain the hay ” says Kurtz “As the animals put their heads in the feeder the belts bend in alongside their necks As they back out the belts flip inward keeping excess hay in the feeder ” He says the feeder is built tough to last with 11-ga tubing used for the frame and 14-ga metal for the skirting It comes unpainted but can be painted on request Replacement belts are available as well as an optional carrying bar “The feeder is built so heavy that one person can’t pick it up by hand ” says Kurtz The feeder is available in 7 and 8-ft bottom dia sizes The 7-ft model sells for $795 plus S&H and the 8-ft for $895 plus S&H Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bill Kurtz 2187 State Rd 87 St Croix Falls Wis 54024 ph 715 483-3866; bill@teamjsi com; www teamjsi com

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