Table of Contents
Why are hay bales wrapped in black plastic?
When black plastic is warmed by the sun it absorbs much of the heat and becomes more permeable to oxygen; the outer layer of forage also warms up. White plastic reflects more of the sunlight which reduces the activities of spoilage microorganisms in the bale.
Is it worth wrapping dry hay?
Wrapping dry hay allows farmers to protect feed from the weather without building more structures. If the hay is in string-tied bales and to be stored outside, then a couple turns of plastic may be an economic advantage, as long as the gain due to reduced storage losses outweighs the loss in increased expense.
How long do wrapped hay bales 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 pink?
Hay bales normally wrapped in black plastic are being covered in pink instead. This is to show support for charity Breast Cancer Now and raise vital funds for new research.
What are those big rolls of hay called?
Balers that produce the large round bales you see dotting the countryside are the most common type of balers available today. These balers produce what are referred to as ton bales. These bales of hay can weigh up to 1,500 pounds.
What are the big round hay bales called?
The two most common options are large round bales, also called rolls, and small square bales.
Does wrapped hay mold?
A 1-2 inch layer of white mold may develop on the outside of each bale, but any losses associated would be far less than unwrapped outside stored hay. Wrapping hay that is higher in moisture than about 20\% will mold more significantly.
Is haylage better than hay?
Haylage dry matter has about 10\% higher nutritional value than hay so if you are feeding the equivalent in terms of dry matter, you can also cut down on supplementary feed as less will be needed to meet the horses energy requirements.
When should I wrap my hay?
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.
Why is some hay wrapped in plastic?
Plastic wrap is most commonly used in high-moisture baling. 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.
What are the black bales in farmers fields?
He is making silage, in the manner of the 1940’s, the heap will ferment and produce lactic acid which preserves the grass, in order to stop the whole lot spoiling it will be covered with black plastic and tyres. Most farmers are more sensible and wrap the stuff in round bales wrapped in plastic.
How do you wrap hay bale?
Steps Decide what type baler you want. Hook the baler up to your tractor. Install the string or net wrap in the appropriate compartment. Perform maintenance checks before beginning to bale. Drop the pick-up wheels from each side of the baler and make sure that they are barely touching the ground.
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.
Can You Wrap dry hay?
Wrapping dry hay. If they are net-wrapped bales, and you know they will be stored outside, then putting extra net wrap on while baling may be as effective, economically speaking. 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.
What is round bale?
An Abbriata Roto- Baler ejecting a net-wrapped small round bale. A baler, most often called a hay baler is a piece of farm machinery used to compress a cut and raked crop (such as hay, cotton, flax straw, salt marsh hay, or silage) into compact bales that are easy to handle, transport, and store.