Every bale counts, especially when feed is expensive or pasture is limited. For Australian cattle and sheep producers, reducing hay wastage can make a significant difference to the bottom line.
Hay fed directly on the ground or through inefficient feeders can be trampled, contaminated or exposed to the weather. The right hay feeder could reduce hay wastage by up to 30%, helping you get more value from every bale.
How Hay Feeders Reduce Wastage
Advantage Feeders are designed to help livestock producers make better use of their hay through:
- Hay containment: Keeping hay inside the feeder rather than scattered across the paddock.
- Waste-catching trays: Catching loose hay that would otherwise be lost.
- Weather protection: Roof options help shield hay from rain.
- Controlled access: Adjustable feeding systems help minimise hay being pulled out and trampled.
The result? Less wasted hay, better feed utilisation and lower feeding costs.
What Could Hay Wastage Be Costing Your Farm?
Consider an Australian livestock operation feeding 200 round hay bales (approximately 350 kg each), valued at $120 AUD per bale.
- Total hay value: $24,000
- Hay wasted at 30%: 60 bales
- Value of wasted hay: $7,200
That’s $7,200 worth of hay lost over the feeding period.
A well-designed hay feeder can help recover some of that value by reducing wastage and keeping more hay available for your livestock.
Find the Right Hay Feeder for Your Farm
Advantage Feeders offers durable hay feeding solutions for Australian cattle, sheep and mixed livestock operations.
Cradle Hay Feeder
Ideal for sheep, lambs, goats, deer and horses. Features adjustable side bars, a reinforced stainless steel floor and a roll-in bale loading system for easy feeding.
Cradle Hay Feeder – Extended
Designed for larger feeding requirements, accommodating two round bales or one large square bale. Offers the same waste-reducing features as the standard Cradle with greater capacity.
Explore the Cradle Hay Feeder Extended
Tray Hay Feeder
Designed for cattle, calves and horses. Reinforced stainless steel trays catch loose hay, while seven adjustable basket heights accommodate different livestock sizes. A Bull Kit is required when feeding bulls.
Tray Hay Feeder – Extended
A higher-capacity option for cattle and horses, offering additional feeding space, adjustable basket heights and stainless steel trays to minimise hay wastage.
Explore the Tray Hay Feeder Extended
Sliding Gates Hay Feeder
A versatile option for cattle, sheep, goats and deer. Adjustable bars and sliding gates provide controlled access to hay, with a roof included for weather protection. Suitable for round and square bales.
Explore the Sliding Gates Hay Feeder
Hay Feeder Roof
Compatible with Cradle and Tray Hay Feeders, providing additional protection against rain to help keep hay drier. Two roof units are required for Extended models.
See for Yourself: Calculate Your Hay Savings
Every farm is different. Your potential savings depend on hay prices, livestock numbers, feeding periods and current wastage.
Use our free ROI calculators to estimate the value of reducing hay wastage and the potential payback period of investing in a hay feeder.
Calculate Your Cattle Hay Savings
Calculate Your Sheep Hay Savings
Make Every Bale Count
Whether you’re feeding through a dry summer, managing a winter feed gap or supplementing livestock during poor pasture conditions, reducing hay wastage is a practical way to improve farm efficiency.
Stop paying for hay your livestock never eat. Explore the Advantage Feeders hay feeder range and see how much you could save.
