Producer Question from 2009
Q: What would the hay loss be from a H&S hay feeder wagon having double bars compared to regular ring hay feeder? (December 22, 2009)
A: I don't know the answer to your question. There are a lot of items that impact hay waste. One of those items is type of hay feeder. The other major factor is how the hay is packaged in the bale. If the bale in not tight and the hay in the bale is loose, cow will pull the hay to the outside of the feeder and will end up on the ground. Once on the ground, it is pretty much a waste.
Dr. Dan Buskirk at Michigan State University has data on hay wastage from different types of hay feeding units. He was the primary source that appeared in the Angus Journal article "All Feeders Not Equal" (PDF 800KB).