Table of Contents
How Long Will plastic wrapped hay last?
In general, forages baled at 40-60\% moisture will maintain feed value for about 12 months as long as the integrity of the plastic is maintained. However, even where the forage was baled at the appropriate moisture level and the plastic has minimal holes, it is good practice to feed baleage bales within 9 months.
Why are hay bales wrapped in black?
The sun warms up the bale and white film reflects the sunlight and thereby keeps the temperature down. Darker film on the other hand absorbs sunlight and gives a higher temperature inside the bale. Black film absorbs the most sunlight. Therefore choose as light coloured film as possible for wrapping of forage.
Why does hay get wrapped?
In this method the forage crop is cut sooner, immediately baled, and wrapped in plastic to ferment like silage. Because forage is at it’s highest quality when cut, baleage is higher in protein and more palatable for livestock than dry hay. Like most aspects of farming, there are many options to consider.
When should I wrap my bales?
When to wrap
- For optimal preservation, wrap bales within 24 hours of baling using 6- to 8-mil-thick plastic.
- Bales left unwrapped for more than 48 hours can reach internal temperatures over 130 degrees F. These bales tend to have lower forage quality and greater mold throughout the bales.
Can you wrap dry hay in plastic?
Wrapping dry hay allows farmers to protect feed from the weather without building more structures. Dry round bales wrapped with an in-line wrapper with plastic wraps of 6 to 8 inches overlap can still result in a layer of decomposed hay on the outside of the bale.
Why are cotton bales color coded?
Yellow plastic identified as cotton contaminant Placing round bales at the edge of the field may help reduce contamination in raw cotton. Placed in the field, bales may be punctured by cotton stalks, moving small bits of yellow plastic into the bale.
How much does it cost to wrap hay?
Plastic can cost upward of $6 to $8 per bale, depending on the size of your bale, and a new wrapper itself can cost between $15,000 and $25,000. When made correctly, individually wrapped bales are usually dense, exclude oxygen, and have the least amount of time between being baled and wrapped.
Why does baleage have an advantage over dry hay?
Advantages over dry hay. Baleage can create high-quality forage if done properly. Baleage typically has less loss during storage than dry hay, fewer weather delays at harvest and a faster turnaround from when the forage is down in both regrowth and time on the ground. The equipment changes are not significant but need to be considered.
Why you should always use silage wrap for Bale wrapping?
Some other reasons why silage wrap film is useful when it comes to preserving feeds is that it lowers the preservation cost. For instance, the fact that you do not need a storage facility for your bales means that you are saving money and you can preserve an unlimited number of bundles.
Why do farmers wrap hay stacks in plastic?
In many agricultural and farming areas you can see stacks and mounds of cylinder-shaped hay bales covered in a white plastic film, resembling oversized marshmallows. It is a common practice for farmers to cover the hay that they store outside with plastic to protect it from the elements.
Why do farmers wrap silage bales in plastic?
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.