Bale wrap removal

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Speaking of removing net wrap, when I was feeding with a front end loader, and turning the cows in on it right away, I'd drop the roll on one end, then find the end of the wrap and walk it around the bale until I had it all off. That way I knew I had it all.
 
Speaking of removing net wrap, when I was feeding with a front end loader, and turning the cows in on it right away, I'd drop the roll on one end, then find the end of the wrap and walk it around the bale until I had it all off. That way I knew I had it all.
That's the way I used to do it when I was using hay rings, because that's the way I set the bale anyway. Now I'm using the "V" feeders that cradle the bale above the ground. I just lower the bale with the loader so the bottom is about 8"-10" off the ground and then unwrap the net. Rarely use a knife. Then set it in the cradle.
One thing I've found that helps; When the rolls are fresh made, before I even move them from the field, I make sure the end of the net is visible somewhere on the upper half. If it's not, I roll the bale so it is. That way the end of the wrap doesn't freeze to the ground and come unwound when I pick it up during the winter season. I don't have a barn. A poor man has poor ways.
 
I won't say it doesn't happen, and folks here will swear that they've encountered it, but over nearly 50 years, I've necropsied or watched necropsies on thousands of cattle of all ages, and I could count the number that had any hay twine or netwrap in their rumen on one hand and have a couple of fingers left over. I have seen wads of plastic garbage bags, and one cow had swallowed an entire rope halter... but in no instance have I ever seen a cow that died as a result of chewing and swallowing plastic twine/netwrap.

That said, I always removed netwrap, and tried my best to get all plastic twine off - it is a PITA if left out in the pasture.
The producer not pulling that net wrap or twine isn't going to go to the trouble or expense of posting a dead animal in most cases.
 
I carry a large utility knife with the break off blades in it in the tractor. They stay sharp way longer than anything else, and its easy to have a newly sharpened blade immediately when what you're using does get dull. You've got like maybe 8 "break-offs" in each blade, and then the handle stores extra new ones yet too. Load it up at the beginning of the season, and it'll probably last all the way through. Hold the bale up off the ground a bit, cut across the side, slip the net off underneath and up the other side, drag it off the top. STORE YOUR BALES ON "BALE RAILS"... like RR tracks about 20" apart... no "soggy bottom boys"!

Stanley Fat Max Snap-Off Knife

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I carry a large utility knife with the break off blades in it in the tractor. They stay sharp way longer than anything else, and its easy to have a newly sharpened blade immediately when what you're using does get dull. You've got like maybe 8 "break-offs" in each blade, and then the handle stores extra new ones yet too. Load it up at the beginning of the season, and it'll probably last all the way through. Hold the bale up off the ground a bit, cut across the side, slip the net off underneath and up the other side, drag it off the top. STORE YOUR BALES ON "BALE RAILS"... like RR tracks about 20" apart... no "soggy bottom boys"!

Stanley Fat Max Snap-Off Knife

View attachment 53415
We don't use this style anymore. Tired of searching for the needle (broken blade) in the haystack. Use this style now and feel it's less risky
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I use a pocket knife to cut it or just find the end and unravel the net wrap. The pasture I feed in is across the road from a cemetery, we find all sorts of stuff.
 
I unwrap hay. We get both net and string from different farms he bales off.

We also find crap all over the property. Thought maybe I built on an old garbage dump. The roads were paved in 90. The dump opened in 2000ish. 200 years of other peoples junk! Tractor parts, fencing, plastic, glass, etc. I'm the lucky one who collects it behind the barn to bring to the dump for its final resting place.
 
Fellow down the road a bit runs around 100 mommas along with their calves and a few bulls in a pasture. He sets out 5-6 round bales for them at a time. No hay ring or feeder but leaves the net wrap on the bales. I have always removed it. I thought that was what you did. Am I wasting my time, or should I continue to remove it?
Remove it
 
Dang, I forgot to record my silage bale dance. That stuff is the devil, but somehow is mostly equal for some of the crayon eating morons we have here. Maybe some of them digested Elmers glue?
 
I'm sitting here talking to my dog. He's the coolest thing that I ever give up.

You Tic Tac Turds need to cabbage onto a better dream.
 

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