Slimy Wrapped Hay ?

[Stocker Steve]

I wrapped some "dry" hay late last summer and just started using it. There is a wet green/black zone around the OD. I probed the rest of it with my moisture tester and it was 12 to 19% - - with an average of 16%. So not real dry.

Is this a case of wrapping too soon ? I waited two days after baling, but we had cool cloudy weather at the time.

 

[Boot Jack Bulls]

That or you had holes in the wrap....

 

[Stocker Steve]

Is there a max moisture level for wrapping dry hay?

 

[Buck Randall]

Is there a max moisture level for wrapping dry hay?

Yes. It either needs to be dry enough to not have mold or bacterial growth (<15%) or wet enough to properly ferment (>40%). Inside that range is trouble.

 

[Stocker Steve]

We wrap a lot of 30 to 40% hay because that is all our baler can handle. Quality seems OK, but we use it pretty quickly.

Looks like we should have baled this hay sooner, or not wrapped it, or fed it sooner...

 

[Silver]

We wrap hay from 18% and up. It's all great feed, cows do very well on it and have never had trouble. Haven't had the slime you describe yet but have heard about it.

 

[Stocker Steve]

We wrap hay from 18% and up. It's all great feed, cows do very well on it and have never had trouble. Haven't had the slime you describe yet but have heard about it.

How many wraps of plastic?
Do you see gray mold with hay over 18%?

 

[Silver]

How many wraps of plastic?
Do you see gray mold with hay over 18%?

I like to aim for 6-7 wraps of plastic.
Only mold I see is if there is a puncture, the bales aren't butted up tight enough, and of course the end bales.