Choosing The Right Bale Size
When choosing hay bale size, think carefully about the hay making, handling, storage and freight costs. Calculate these costs on a dollar per tonne, not just on a per bale basis.
For the best freight efficiency with hay, always aim for 25 tonne on a 45 foot drop deck trailer. A good operator with modern equipment can achieve this with 8x4x3 or 8x3x3 bales, and can achieve a moisture content of 12% – 16%.
All other bale types and sizes including the 8x4x4 bales do not maximise load weights, therefore increasing freight costs for buyers and reducing your marketability.
Due to freight issues and poor freight efficiencies, round bales are not encouraged. If you are making round bales we advocate a 4×4 round bale – not a 5×4 – as you get more weight on the truck. Small square bales are suitable for specific or niche markets only.
See our full guide on how much do hay bales weigh?
