Modular baled hay feeding system and method for livestock

摘要

A system and method of feeding rolled bales of hay to livestock while simultaneously storing the hay off of the ground. The hay is presented in such a way that the livestock can graze on the hay bales at will, much as they would graze in a grass field. The system of storing and offering the hay bales is modular, and may be added to or subtracted from depending upon the size of the herd of livestock. Additionally, the invention is designed to be placed along an existing fence-line for simple access to the feeding system. This allows the system to act as a simple pass-through for hay bales for feeding purposes, as opposed to requiring that bales be physically picked up and placed on a feeder for each individual feeding. A trough for water or other types of feed may also be built directly into the system.

主权项

1. A livestock feeding system comprising:
a frame defining a storage space adapted for receiving hay bales; said frame having a livestock feeding opening adapted for providing livestock access to said storage space; said frame having a bale-receiving opening adapted to receive hay bales; said frame having a bale support located in proximity to said livestock feeding opening and adapted for supporting a hay bale in proximity to and accessible by livestock through said livestock feeding opening, said frame comprising: a pair of upstanding side frames each comprising a base member, a top member, and a plurality of vertical members; an upstanding central frame comprising a base member, a top member, and a plurality of vertical members; a plurality of bale stopper frame members; a pair of bale stopper cross-bars affixed to said upstanding side frames; wherein said bale stopper cross-bars and said upstanding central frame top member comprise a storage space for containing a round hay bale; and wherein said upstanding side frame vertical members and plurality of bale stopper frame members define a feeding space providing access to said hay bale by livestock.