Hoping to start ensiling round bales with little HP

Hello all, I am just in the process of setting up a farm and I am trying to figure out how to make it all work without having to purchase too many new pieces of equipment. We want to put up winter feed for about 100 beef cattle and would prefer working with dry hay, but have lost a lot of hay already this year due to rain.

 

I run a JD 5425 tractor with 65 ponies at the PTO and the terrain I farm is quite hilly. I've been looking at a number of 4X5 round balers (probably new) and I am scratching my head trying to figure out all of the options and whether or not the 5425 will handle it. Any insights that you may have on the following questions would be helpful and thanks in advance.

 

1) The local Krone dealer suggested that I don't have the HP for a V1500 (although the rotor cutter spec says 50 hp online) and also suggested that plugging is a problem with feed rotor option. (He wanted to sell me a MF 2946 instead - seems like it is built too light for up to 50% silage baling). Is plugging a common issue with feed rotors? Do you think I could run a V1500 with a JD 5425?

 

2) The Kubota BV4160 is rated for 55 hp, but I can't find any reviews on it - is this a decent baler?

 

3) The Kuhn 2160 open throat requires a minimum of 55 hp (75 hp recommended), but they recommend the optifeed for moist-baling which requires 65 hp min (recommend 85hp). Could I bale material with 50% moisture in the open throat?

 

4) The NH  7060 silage baler is rated for 65 hp, but the dealer thought I'd have to watch my tractor like a hawk to not overheat it.

 

Any insight on these or any other balers would be most useful.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Paul

 

Hoping to start ensiling round bales with little HP