BALER SIZES

Here's a handy picture that gives a visual view of the different bale
sizes from M R Horn - Hay, Straw & Transport's website

Conventional Bales - these are the little two string square bales of around 18 - 20kg weight (hay heavier, straw lighter)

100 x 40 x 30cm

Flat 8 - this expression relates to a system that starts with a sled pulled behind the baler which gathers the bales as they eject from the baler and arranges them in a flat stack of 8 bales and leaves them on the field.  A flat 8 grab on a loader is then used to stack the bales onto a trailer or to create a stack of flat 8's, which then a three point linkage mounted flat 8 squeeze or a flat 8 self loading tipping trailer grabs for transport.

Big Square Bales - though referred to as square, they are actually rectangular.  They can be made in various lengths, typically 8' for straw, 7' for hay, and around 4' for haylage/silage which is wrapped.  A tractor or loader are needed to move and stack these.  However like conventional bales, they are in biscuits like a sliced loaf so once the strings are cut, a slab can be carried or stacked in a barrow to  feed.

w x h x l (cm) weights vary by crop, moisture and bale density (for guidance only)

80 x 70 (D4000 4 string bale)
80 x 90 (10 x10 4 string bale)
120 x 90 (6 string bale)


120 x 70 x 240 Quadrant 6 string bale 250 - 350kg

  80 x   90 x 240 mini Hesston 240 - 290kg
120 x   90 x 240 ¾ Hesston 400 - 500kg
120 x 120 x 240 Hesston 500 - 550kg

BALER and BALE SIZE pdf

Round Bales - these still need a tractor to move and stack, but can also be rolled about the yard or onto a trailer with a ramp.  Typically 1.2m / 4ft width and generally 1.2m diameter for hay and straw, though straw can be baled up to 6' diameter.  Sometime they are made only 3' diameter so watch what size you're buying.  Because they are round each extra foot of wide adds significantly more volume to the bale, i.e. a 5' is 25% wider than a 4', but increases the volume/weight of the bale by more than 25% (refer to pie calculations).  Likewise a 3' is 25% smaller than a 4' but is significantly less volume.

Notes: (weights quoted at auction on truck ready to deliver so likely weighbridge weights)
Massey Ferguson 2270 Bales Meadow Hay (2.4m x 1.2m x 0.9m) 522kg/bale
     "               "              "                                                                                 541kg/bale
Class Quadrant Bales Meadow Hay (2.4m x 0.8m x 0.7m) 12.6 tonne/50 bales = 252kg/bale