Abstract: A machine for cutting generally oblong, compressed bales of dried hay or forage for livestock, comprises an inlet chute for receiving compressed bales in end-to-end alignment and moving them forwardly into a sawing section. The latter has side walls, a floor for supporting a bale as it moves through the sawing section and a horizontal top member parallel with and spaced above the floor. A plurality of circular saws are spaced apart on a pair of upper and lower shafts, each saw on one said shaft being vertically aligned with a saw on the other shaft. The saw shafts are connected by a pulley and driven by a rotary power source. A hydraulic pump connected to one of the saw shafts is utilized to drive hydraulic motors for moving bales through the sawing section.

Abstract: A method for cutting a generally oblong, compressed bale of hay or forage into a plurality of elongated sub-sections, is disclosed. The method comprises moving compressed bales continuously through a sawing section having a first and second series of saws arranged transversely for progressively cutting the bale at a series of vertical and horizontal planes to form the hay sub-sections. The cut sub-sections are caused to fall on a conveyor belt which dispenses them from the end of an outlet chute. The sawing of the bale minimizes leaf and fibre damage, and the cut subsections of hay readily break apart to make them easily consumable by livestock.

Abstract: A machine for cutting a generally oblong, compressed bale of hay or forage into a plurality of elongated sub-sections, is disclosed. The machine has an inlet for moving compressed bales into an adjoining sawing section and through a passageway having a first and second series of saws arranged transversely for progressively cutting the bale at a series of vertical and horizontal planes to form the hay sub-sections. The cut sub-sections are caused to fall on a conveyor belt which dispenses them from the end of an outlet chute. The sawing of the bale minimizes leaf and fibre damage, and the cut subsections of hay readily break apart to make them easily consumable by livestock.