Save on time, hay and money
By decreasing stress and keeping your horse occupied
Slows down the eating rate, also making them perfect for metabolic conditions
Keeping your steed stimulated, happy and entertained
Our GutzBusta® Square Bales nets will fit all sizes of large square bales (8x3x3/8x4x4/ and 8x4x3). The new design makes them larger and easier to put on. It reduces the incidence of colic, choke, stomach ulcers, boredom, hay wastage, and vices.
This size hay net is basically a 'one size fits all' hay net as it will fit these Large Square Bales, as well as all sizes of round bales. This is how easy it is to adjust the hay net down a size.
This net will also fit the 6x4x3 Bales or similar, but there will be some extra netting that is easily dealt with. For instructions on how to fit this size net onto a round bale or how to take up the slack of the netting when the bale is smaller than the net, please click here.
Our 3cm hay nets are now 60ply - the strongest available on the market. Due to the increased thickness of this netting and therefore more material per square meter, this netting costs us more to produce, and hence they are a little more expensive.
Click here for a YouTube video on how to put a GutzBusta hay net on a Large Square Export Bale 8x3x4 or 8x4x3.
What material are the Gutzbusta® Hay Nets made from?
Our GutzBusta® Slow Feed Hay Nets are made from tough and durable, UV Stabilized, and heat-treated netting in 60ply polyethylene netting. This netting will not absorb water, therefore there is no change to the properties of the netting during inclement weather or if used to soak hay.
What hole size will suit my horse or livestock?
Available in 3cm, 4cm, and 6cm (60ply), our Slow Feed Hay Nets are made from tough, durable, UV Stabilized, and heat-treated 60ply polyethylene netting. This netting is not water absorbent, so you don’t have to worry about your net getting heavy when soaked in water.
3cm hole size
This size is great for gutsy eaters, ponies, laminitic horses, or if your hay is really palatable and you want to slow consumption even more. We recommend this for horses and ponies that have tried slow feed hay nets before. While some horses may be frustrated by this size, others accept it without hesitation.
Despite no top teeth, we also have customers whose cattle can still eat from this size with palatable hay.
4cm hole size
Our most popular hole size. 95% of horses have no trouble accepting this hole size. It's also perfect for cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, and alpacas, too. Available in 60ply.
6cm hole size
Works well for broodmares, old horses, young horses, or any horse, cow, sheep, alpaca, or goat that you aren't trying to restrict hay consumption with, but still want to reduce hay wastage. You can also use less palatable, coarse, or stalky hay with this size.
Note: Please make sure that the hoof size is greater than the hole size if you are allowing hoof access to this net. Hanging the net higher or putting a hay ring or physical barrier is also recommended for shod horses or if young horses have access to nets where hoof size may be an issue.
Why use GutzBusta® Slow Feed Hay Nets?
Studies have shown that using slow feed hay nets such as our GutzBusta® Hay Net Feeders also decreases wastage by up to 46%. We’ve been making hay nets for over 8 years and we know how the netting behaves over time. This is why we developed a size and pattern that works to enable these nets to last longer.
Our GutzBusta® Large Square Bales are easy to put on and come with a large drawstring to easily secure the hay net around your square bale.
Our products are the most generously sized and designed to be easier to put on compared to other hay nets available in the market.
How to use GutzBusta® Large Square Bales?
Simply place your large square bale on its side so you can cut and remove the strings easily, then open up and lay the hay net along the top of the bale. Pull the net down towards the ground until it totally surrounds the bale, then take up the slack with the drawstring and secure the net around the bale. If you have a tractor or Ute then you can gently tip the bale up slightly from one long side and then the other to be able to put the netting underneath the bale. Although this net will not totally encapsulate an 8x3x4 bale, it will come close and these bales are too heavy to be pushed over by a horse anyway.
These bales can weigh from 500kg to 700kg, we do suggest that you leave one string in place on your bale (bottom or second bottom string) to give the bale and net support until some of the bulk of the hay has been taken out. Once some of the bulk is eaten from the bale, then we recommend cutting and removing this final string.
When you tie up and secure the drawstring, make sure the excess rope is either tied back up into the net itself or that you tie a knot in the drawstring at the base of the net. Then, undo the simple knot at the end of the drawstring. You can leave the remaining drawstring loose or once you have pulled up and tied it off into the net, or you can put the remaining drawstring under the bale (if you have a tractor or are able to lift or tip the bale). Although this is related to round bale, you may wish to watch this video for more ideas on how to deal with your drawstring.
Caution:
When choosing a hay net hole size, several factors should be considered. Here is a summary of the key points for each hole size mentioned:
Extra Small: Float/yard sized net capable of holding up to 1 generous biscuit of hay. Suitable for stables, yards, and floats.
Small: Float/yard sized net capable of holding up to 3 generous biscuits of hay. Versatile and strong, suitable for stables, yards, and floats.
Medium: Capable of holding up to 4-6 biscuits or half a bale of hay. Ideal as an overnight net for stables, yards, and floats.
Large: Full small bale-sized net available. Easy to load a full small bale of hay into. Suitable for stables, yards, and paddocks.
Extra Large: Perfectly fits a 3-Stringer Bale.
Round Bale: Available for different round bale sizes (3x4, 4x4, 5x4, 6x4). Comes in various net sizes (3cm, 4cm, 6cm).
8x3x3 / 8x4x3 / 8x4x4: Large square bales in sizes 8x4x4, 8x4x3 and 8x3x3. Available in different net sizes (3cm, 4cm, 6cm). Can fit all sizes of round bales.
Note: Custom sizes are not available for premade hay nets.
Our Knotted and knotless hay nets are made from UV-stabilized polyethylene netting and have been in use for 8 years. They come in various ply sizes and are tough, durable, and easily repairable. They have been used by many horses and can last 2 to 6 years. Knotted nets are suitable for soaking hay and do not take on the weight of water. They are available in black and offer hole sizes of 30mm, 40mm, and 60mm.
On the other hand, the knotless hay nets are made from high-strength, UV Stabilised polypropylene and have been available since 2019. They are softer and do take on some weight when soaked. The deluxe knotless nets are considered more luxurious and have become popular due to their softness. They are the strongest on the market with 240 ply and come in hole sizes of 20mm, 30mm, 40mm, and 60mm. Knotless nets are also only available in black.
When it comes to strength and longevity, there isn't a significant difference between knotted and knotless nets. Both types have proven to be tough, durable, and long-lasting. While some horses may prefer one material over the other, there is no way to predict which will suit an individual horse better without trying them. Ultimately, the lifespan of the nets depends on the individual horse and usage. Knotted nets have been used for 2 to 6 years without needing repairs, while the lifespan of knotless nets is still unknown after 3 years of use.
