Table of Contents
What is the purpose of wrapping hay bales?
Wrapped bales create a condition for proper fermentation and longer-term storage. Dry matter losses will be lower when harvesting at these moisture levels. Producers can end up with tough hay when moisture ranges between 20 and 35 percent.
What is the difference between wrapped hay and haylage?
The fundamental difference between hay and haylage is the way that the grass is conserved. Haylage tends to be cut earlier in the season and is left to wilt for a shorter period of time in the field before being baled and wrapped in several layers of plastic.
Why is haylage better than hay?
Poorer quality hay is low in nutrients and could cause severe long term health problems due to the presence of moulds. Haylage is much closer to the horses natural diet of grass, both in texture and nutritional value it is more palatable and digestible than hay, has a higher nutritional value and is less dusty.
Can you bale hay on a cloudy day?
Changing weather conditions are always a source of stress for farmers and ranchers. As many of you know, this is particularly true in hay making, where you need several consecutive days of warm, dry weather to mow, ted, rake and bale.
Why are hay bales round?
The shape of round bales enables them to be stored outside, something you would never do with square bales. Rain and snow naturally run off their curved sides, like a roof. Farmers have three choices of materials to wrap bales – twine, net wrap, or plastic wrap. Unlike gift wrap, the choice isn’t just about presentation.
What is the best way to wrap a bale of hay?
Farmers have three choices of materials to wrap bales – twine, net wrap, or plastic wrap. Unlike gift wrap, the choice isn’t just about presentation. It’s about baling efficiency and storage. If properly baled and stored, hay can last a long time without degrading in quality. Bale wrapped with twine.
Are plastic wrapped bales better forage?
The last few decades have brought increased interest in the use of plastic wrapped bales for forage. The advantages are clear: reduction in drying time, better leaf retention compared to dry hay, no storage structures needed, and reduction in weather risk.
Why do farmers wrap their baleage?
The proliferation of farmers offering custom wrapping has helped make wrapping cost-effective for many farms that would not have been able to justify owning wrapping equipment. We occasionally receive questions in regard to aspects of making and feeding quality baleage.