Helpful Equipment to Simplify Feeding and Winter Storage for Your Cattle Ranch

A 5 Series tractor lifts a hay bale into a barn for winter storage.

posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 in Dealer News

Winter feeding season brings its own unique challenges that can test every cattle rancher in Texas. Moving heavy hay bales, breaking ice in water troughs, and feeding across lots of land and pastures demands serious physical labor and time. But here’s the good news: the right equipment can change these exhausting tasks into manageable daily routines.

At Tellus Equipment Solutions, we work with cattle ranchers across Central and South Texas who face these same seasonal demands. Let's look at the equipment that makes winter feeding and storage operations run smoothly on your ranch.

Utility Tractors for Daily Feeding Operations

A reliable Utility tractor is a valuable tool, maybe your most valuable tool, during the winter feeding season. Models in the 50 to 100 horsepower range, like the popular John Deere 5075E, handle the daily grind of moving hay bales from storage to feeding areas — all you need is a front-end loader and a bale spear! For small bales, the front-end loader attachment is also a great tool to load and lift small square bales without straining your back or requiring extra help.

If it’s power you seek, the John Deere 5E 4-Cylinder Series tractors deliver the muscle you need for winter ranch work and provide the extra HP needed to run in-season mowing and baling equipment. These machines navigate through mud and wet conditions that make most truck access difficult. When morning temperatures drop and pastures freeze, your versatile 5 Series tractor still gets feed to your herd on time. Check out the John Deere 5100E, with 100 rated horsepower and a PTO horsepower of 85HP, it can handle all manner of attachments and lifting jobs on the ranch. Pair it with the new Premium Cab option, and winter feeding just became a much more comfortable and efficient job.

Explore 5 Series Utility Tractors

Front-End Loaders Move Hay and Feed Materials Quickly

Front-end loaders attached to your tractor save hours of manual labor on the ranch every single day. Loading hay onto trailers, stacking bales in storage areas, and distributing feed are made easy with a front-end loader attachment. Save time (and your back!) with this simple but effective attachment.

Essential Attachments That Improve Winter Ranch Work

The right attachments turn your tractor into a complete feeding and storage system. These tools handle specific tasks that come up throughout winter feeding season.

Bale spears: Pierce and secure round bales for safe transport across your property without dropping the heavy bales. For more efficient work, add a front and rear bale spear to your tractor to move 2 round bales at once.
Pallet forks: Move pallets carrying feed bags, supplements, and other stacked and bagged materials around your ranch quickly and safely.
Box blades: Grade and maintain feeding areas, keeping them level and accessible even after heavy rain.
Grapples: Grab loose hay, clean feeding areas and pastures, handle manure, and grab debris that accumulates around winter feeding stations.
Tillage Tools: A disk harrow or aerator offers great solutions for pasture leveling and to mitigate compaction.

Compact Track Loaders Provide Versatility in Tight Spaces

Another helpful machine for winter storage and feeding tasks is a Compact Track Loader. CTLs excel in barn areas and smaller feeding lots where utility tractors struggle to maneuver. These machines clean stalls, move bedding materials, and distribute feed in small spaces. The John Deere quick-attach system lets you switch between buckets, forks, and other implements in seconds. We offer a full line of John Deere Compact Track Loaders that vary in size, HP, and lifting capacity.

Browse New John Deere Compact Track Loaders

Used skid steers from Tellus Equipment Solutions offer excellent value for cattle ranchers. These machines handle daily feeding tasks while fitting ranch budgets better than new equipment. Our used inventory includes John Deere skid steers with proven track records on Texas cattle ranches.

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Hay Storage Solutions to Protect Your Winter Feed

Proper hay storage equipment protects your feed from sometimes unpredictable Texas weather conditions. Tarps and covers will prevent moisture damage that ruins hay quality. Storage barns keep bales dry, reducing waste from bottom hay rot and mold growth.

Your loader attachment makes organizing hay storage areas simple. Stack bales in rows that allow good air circulation. This storage method is proven to preserve hay quality throughout the winter feeding season and reduces the amount of ruined feed you're forced to throw away.

Get Your Ranch Ready for Winter Feeding Season

Don't wait for the perfect timing; the equipment you choose now determines how smoothly your ranch operates during the busiest feeding months. Tellus Equipment Solutions stocks the utility tractors, loaders, and attachments that Texas cattle ranchers depend on daily.

Visit one of our Central or South Texas locations to discuss your specific ranch feeding needs. Our team understands cattle operations and can recommend equipment that matches your herd size and property layout. Come see us today!

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