How to Make a Hay Rack for Longhorn Cattle

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How to Make a Hay Rack for Longhorn Cattle

How to Make a Hay Rack for Longhorn Cattle. Hay racks, or hay feeders as they are more commonly known, can be a valuable investment for cattle owners, saving up to 50 percent of hay which otherwise would be wasted. Many types of feeders are available to purchase, but feeders for Longhorn cattle present a unique challenge due to the distinctive horns of the breed. If you know how to weld, you can build your own hay feeder for Longhorns.

The distinctive horns of Longhorn cattle create a challenge when using hay racks or hay feeders.

Things Needed

16-gauge square tubing
Heavy sheet steel, at least 1 5/8 inch by 16-gauge
Drop pin lock mechanism
3 heavy duty hinges

Step 1

Decide how large to build your rack/feeder. Consider whether you will be feeding large square or round bales or ordinary two- or three-wire bales. To ensure your rack is large enough for big bales, round racks should be at least 8 feet diameter. Racks should be at least 3 feet tall and adjustments should be made depending upon the age and size of the Longhorns you're feeding.

Step 2

Weld the frame of the rack using 16-gauge heavy square tubing. Round racks are more common but the frame can also be built in a square. For best results, build at least two rings around the bottom of the frame.

Step 3

Weld the sheet metal around the bottom of the frame, creating a kick shield, an important safety feature which keeps calves from getting inside the rack and prevents older animals from injuring their legs.

Step 4

Build feeding slats around the top of the frame by welding slant bars at regular intervals. Slant bars for Longhorns should be rounded, shaped like cones and spaced at least 18 inches apart to allow cattle to tip their heads through the slats to reach inside for hay. The open top design prevents cattle from getting stuck due to the size of their horns.

Step 5

Build a hinged opening to more easily load new bales of hay without the need to lift the entire rack. Weld hinges to one corner of a square framed rack or on one side of a round rack. On the opposite side, weld a drop pin lock system.