Hayloft
Encyclopedia
A hayloft is a space above a barn
, stable
or cow-shed, traditionally used for storage of hay
or other fodder
for the animals below. Haylofts were used mainly before the widespread use of hay bale
s, which allow simpler handling of bulk hay. Another name for a hayloft is a mow.
The hayloft was filled with loose hay from the top of a wagon
thrown up through a large door, usually some 3 metres (9.8 ft) or more above the ground, often in the gable
end of the building. Cut in the floor of the hayloft were slots or holes (sometimes with hatches), each above a hay-rack or manger
in the animal housing below. The hay could easily be dropped through the holes to feed the animals.
Haylofts in old buildings are now often used for other storage, or have been converted into habitable rooms. However, farms that use small square hay bales may still use the hayloft for storage of hay.
Many farmers now use larger bales of hay (or silage
) which must be handled by machinery, and these are normally stored in more open buildings or outside.
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
, stable
Stable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals...
or cow-shed, traditionally used for storage of hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
or other fodder
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
for the animals below. Haylofts were used mainly before the widespread use of hay bale
Baler
A baler is a piece of farm machinery used to compress a cut and raked crop into compact bales that are easy to handle, transport and store...
s, which allow simpler handling of bulk hay. Another name for a hayloft is a mow.
The hayloft was filled with loose hay from the top of a wagon
Wagon
A wagon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals; it was formerly often called a wain, and if low and sideless may be called a dray, trolley or float....
thrown up through a large door, usually some 3 metres (9.8 ft) or more above the ground, often in the gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
end of the building. Cut in the floor of the hayloft were slots or holes (sometimes with hatches), each above a hay-rack or manger
Manger
A manger is a trough or box of carved stone or wood construction used to hold food for animals . Mangers are mostly used in livestock raising. They are also used to feed wild animals, e.g., in nature reserves...
in the animal housing below. The hay could easily be dropped through the holes to feed the animals.
Haylofts in old buildings are now often used for other storage, or have been converted into habitable rooms. However, farms that use small square hay bales may still use the hayloft for storage of hay.
Many farmers now use larger bales of hay (or silage
Silage
Silage is fermented, high-moisture fodder that can be fed to ruminants or used as a biofuel feedstock for anaerobic digesters. It is fermented and stored in a process called ensiling or silaging, and is usually made from grass crops, including corn , sorghum or other cereals, using the entire...
) which must be handled by machinery, and these are normally stored in more open buildings or outside.