7 Best Portable Cattle Feeders For Small Farms That Old Farmers Swear By

Managing a small herd means you don’t have time to fix broken equipment every weekend. Choosing the right feeder is the difference between a streamlined morning chore routine and a muddy, expensive mess in the pasture. These seven portable options have earned their reputation by surviving the leaning, rubbing, and general rowdiness of hungry cattle.

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Selecting Durable Feeders for Small Scale Herds

Cattle are remarkably efficient at destroying anything that isn’t built to last. When you’re operating on a small scale, you need equipment that can be moved by one person or a small utility tractor without falling apart. The goal is to balance weight for portability against the sheer strength required to withstand a thousand-pound animal.

Think about your specific terrain and herd size before buying. A feeder that works perfectly on a flat, dry concrete pad might become a sunken anchor in a muddy winter paddock. Look for UV-resistant plastics and galvanized steel to ensure your investment doesn’t rust or become brittle after two seasons in the sun.

Avoid the trap of buying the cheapest "economy" bunk at the big-box store. Those thin-walled metal troughs often buckle the first time a cow decides to scratch an itch against the corner. Spending a bit more upfront on a heavy-duty portable model saves you the headache of welding repairs or total replacements down the road.

Tarter Tough Flex Feeder: Durable Ground Feeding

If you’ve ever seen a plastic tub shatter during a deep freeze, you’ll appreciate the Tarter Tough Flex. These feeders are made from a rubber-like polyethylene that bends instead of breaking. You can literally watch a cow step directly into the middle of one, and it will pop right back into shape.

These are perfect for "flash feeding" grain or cubes in different parts of the pasture to prevent soil compaction. Because they are lightweight and stackable, you can throw five of them in the back of a UTV and distribute them in minutes. They don’t have legs, which means there is nothing for an animal to trip over or get a leg caught in.

The only real tradeoff is that they sit directly on the ground. If your pasture is particularly muddy, the feed can get contaminated quickly. However, for rotational grazing setups where you are constantly moving the herd to fresh grass, these are the gold standard for simplicity and longevity.

Behlen Country Poly Bunk: Lightweight Portability

The Behlen Poly Bunk is the answer for the farmer who needs a traditional trough without the back-breaking weight of steel. It features a heavy-duty poly liner bolted into a galvanized frame. This design prevents the "rust-out" that typically happens at the bottom of all-metal bunks where moisture and saliva collect.

One person can easily flip this bunk on its side and drag it to a new location. This portability is crucial for small farms trying to manage "sacrifice lots" or prevent overgrazing near the gate. The rounded corners are a hidden benefit, as they prevent calves from getting bruised or scraped during the feeding frenzy.

Be aware that because they are lightweight, a dominant cow can sometimes push the bunk around the field. If you have a particularly aggressive herd, you might find the bunk twenty feet from where you left it. Most old-timers solve this by simply pinning the legs with a couple of pieces of rebar if they plan to keep it in one spot for more than a day.

Sioux Steel Ground Mineral Feeder: Weatherproof

Minerals are one of the highest recurring costs for a small cattle operation, and wasting them to rain is like throwing money in the mud. The Sioux Steel Ground Mineral Feeder uses a heavy-duty rubber cover that the cattle lift with their noses to access the contents. It’s a simple, low-tech solution that works every single time.

The base is weighted and low-profile, making it nearly impossible for a bull to flip it over. This is a common frustration with cheaper "flying saucer" style feeders that end up upside down five minutes after you fill them. This unit stays put and keeps the expensive minerals bone-dry through thunderstorms.

It does take a day or two for younger calves to figure out how to lift the flap. You might need to prop it open with a small stick for the first few hours to show them where the "good stuff" is hidden. Once one cow figures it out, the rest of the herd will follow suit within the hour.

Apache Creep Feeder: Best for Growing Beef Calves

When you want to put weight on calves without the adult cows stealing all the high-protein feed, you need a creep feeder. The Apache models are legendary because they are built like tanks and can be towed behind a truck. The "creep" part refers to the adjustable bars that allow small calves in while keeping the large cows out.

This is a significant investment, but it pays for itself in calf weaning weights. By providing a dedicated space for calves to eat, you reduce the stress on the mothers and ensure the youngsters are getting the nutrition they need to grow. The portable design means you can move the feeder as you rotate the calves through different paddocks.

Keep in mind that these require a flat surface to sit level. If you place it on a slope, the gravity-fed grain might clog on one side or spill out too fast on the other. It’s a specialized tool, but for a beef-focused hobby farm, it’s the most efficient way to manage growth rates.

High Country Plastics Hay Cradle: Reduces Waste

Feeding hay on the ground is the fastest way to lose 30% of your winter forage to trampling and waste. The High Country Plastics Hay Cradle keeps the bale off the ground and contained within a poly frame. It’s essentially a hammock for your hay, allowing cows to pull what they need without pulling the whole bale into the mud.

The "cradle" design is much safer than traditional metal hay rings. There are no metal bars for a calf to get its head stuck in, which is a common and tragic occurrence on small farms. Because it’s made of poly, it won’t rust, and it’s light enough to be tipped over and rolled to a new spot by hand.

The tradeoff here is capacity; it’s typically designed for smaller round bales or several square bales. If you are running a large-scale operation with massive 1,500-pound bales, this might be too small. But for the hobbyist with a few head of cattle, it’s the perfect size for maintaining cleanliness and saving money.

Applegate Tombstone Feeder: Classic Hay Security

The "Tombstone" name comes from the shape of the metal loops that go over the cows’ necks. This design is a favorite among old-timers because it mimics a natural grazing position while preventing the cows from tossing hay over their backs. It provides a defined space for each animal, which reduces fighting and "boss cow" behavior at the bale.

These feeders are usually made of heavy-gauge galvanized steel and come in sections that bolt together. This makes them surprisingly portable; you can take them apart to move them in a small pickup truck or even a large garden trailer. Once assembled, they are sturdy enough to handle the pressure of a full-grown herd pushing for the last bit of clover.

The solid skirt at the bottom is the key feature. It keeps the loose hay contained within the ring rather than letting it blow away or get stomped into the dirt. While it’s heavier than the poly options, the durability and waste reduction make it a staple on farms that prioritize long-term value.

Rubbermaid Structural Foam Tank: Versatile Use

While technically sold as a stock tank for water, the Rubbermaid structural foam tank is the ultimate "utility player" on a small farm. Many experienced farmers use these as oversized feed bunks. They are virtually indestructible, UV-resistant, and have a drain plug that makes cleaning out old feed or rainwater a five-second job.

The depth of these tanks makes them ideal for feeding large groups of calves or for holding bulk forage. Unlike thin plastic tubs, the structural foam doesn’t crack when it’s kicked or hit by a tractor bucket. They are also heavy enough to stay in place during a windstorm but light enough to be dragged across the grass.

One clever use is to use them for water during the summer and then scrub them out to use as grain bunks during the winter. This dual-purpose nature is perfect for the hobby farmer with limited storage space. Just ensure you get the 50 or 100-gallon size; anything larger becomes too difficult to move without machinery once it’s dirty or wet.

Investing in the right portable feeders allows you to manage your herd with less physical strain and less financial waste. While the upfront cost of "old farmer approved" gear might be higher, the years of maintenance-free service they provide are worth every penny. Choose the tool that fits your current herd size, but always buy with the durability to handle the herd you hope to have tomorrow.