Feed, Forage & Input Transport Category Guide

Moving Feed to the Herd

Dairy farms consume large quantities of feed—silage, hay, grain, and supplements all need to move from storage to feeding areas. The right hauling equipment minimizes labor and time while maintaining feed quality during transport.

Forage Transport Equipment

Silage Wagons and Trucks

• Self-unloading wagons: Tractor-pulled with conveyor unloading
• Dump wagons and trucks: Fast unloading at bunkers and piles
• Live-floor trailers: Walking floor for controlled unloading

Bale Handling

• Flat wagons and trailers
• Self-loading bale wagons
• Accumulator and grapple systems

Commodity Transport

Grain and Concentrates

• Gravity wagons
• Grain carts
• Bulk commodity trailers

By-Products and Supplements

• Dump trailers for wet by-products
• Walking floor trailers
• Commodity bins on chassis

Own vs. Custom Hauling

Benefits of Ownership

• Control over timing and scheduling
• No per-load fees
• Equipment available when needed

Benefits of Custom Hire

• No capital investment
• No maintenance responsibility
• Professional drivers and equipment
• Surge capacity during harvest

Efficiency Factors

• Match wagon/trailer size to tractor power
• Minimize travel distance with good layout
• Consider unloading time in equipment selection
• Plan for peak harvest capacity needs

Cost Considerations

Forage wagons range from $10,000-50,000 depending on size and features. Large dump trailers cost $30,000-80,000. Custom forage hauling runs $5-15 per ton depending on distance and volume. Compare ownership costs (payment, maintenance, labor) to custom hire rates.