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Wrapping Bales (pics)
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<blockquote data-quote="SRBeef" data-source="post: 701249" data-attributes="member: 7509"><p>There are bale wrappers that will wrap the entire bale. They are usually used to make baleage (sileage) when bales are mowed raked rolled and wrapped without the drying period used for dry hay such as this.</p><p></p><p>Some folks also stack bales inside continuous plastic bags.</p><p></p><p>In both cases the machines are much, much, more complex and expensive. You have to use much more plastic on baleage to insure an airtight package. I don't want to make baleage, I just want to keep rain, snow, mold, etc out of my bales. Getting some plastic under the bale, between your hay and the dirt, works wonders on keeping mold down.</p><p></p><p>Having the ends open lets the bale breathe a bit. Although I usually put them in a line up and down hill and push them tight together.</p><p></p><p>What I am looking for is something which will keep dry hay in a condition like this when I feed it. These bales had sleeves with the ends open but bales pushed together:</p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.ranchers.net/photopost/data/500/IMG_4072_1_Bale_Quality_with_Sleeves.JPG" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Making baleage/sileage is a process that is just not for small scale folks that can't be there full time. Takes a lot of equipment.</p><p></p><p>If I can keep expensive hay in the condition shown on this picture from last winter I will be happy. These bales were covered with bale sleeves which worked as far as preservation but are not practical for me due to bale size variation and time to install. This wrapping goes very quickly once you get the system figured out. </p><p></p><p>We had a discussion here maybe a year ago on placing large bales - should there be a space between them or pushed tight. I find in my climate etc pushing tight generally keeps the ends in better condition.</p><p></p><p>However today I finished wrapping the last few bales in a light rain so I left space between these last bales so they can breathe. I'm not saying this wrapping is for everyone. It just looks like a way to reduce waste and retain quality of expensive hay.</p><p></p><p>Another thread here is discussing economics, costs etc. When times are tough I find we need to be especially careful with details - like reducing loss/deterioration of expensive, and in my case all purchased, winter hay. I am also looking at probably keeping maybe 20% of my expected annual hay needs in reserve. This wrapping should keep that hay in better shape longer. We'll see.</p><p></p><p>Jim</p><p></p><p>Edit: By the way, I was advised NOT to wrap the plastic over the edges since this would form a pocket for water to sit if any did get in - mold follows as most are aware.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SRBeef, post: 701249, member: 7509"] There are bale wrappers that will wrap the entire bale. They are usually used to make baleage (sileage) when bales are mowed raked rolled and wrapped without the drying period used for dry hay such as this. Some folks also stack bales inside continuous plastic bags. In both cases the machines are much, much, more complex and expensive. You have to use much more plastic on baleage to insure an airtight package. I don't want to make baleage, I just want to keep rain, snow, mold, etc out of my bales. Getting some plastic under the bale, between your hay and the dirt, works wonders on keeping mold down. Having the ends open lets the bale breathe a bit. Although I usually put them in a line up and down hill and push them tight together. What I am looking for is something which will keep dry hay in a condition like this when I feed it. These bales had sleeves with the ends open but bales pushed together: [img]http://www.ranchers.net/photopost/data/500/IMG_4072_1_Bale_Quality_with_Sleeves.JPG[/img] Making baleage/sileage is a process that is just not for small scale folks that can't be there full time. Takes a lot of equipment. If I can keep expensive hay in the condition shown on this picture from last winter I will be happy. These bales were covered with bale sleeves which worked as far as preservation but are not practical for me due to bale size variation and time to install. This wrapping goes very quickly once you get the system figured out. We had a discussion here maybe a year ago on placing large bales - should there be a space between them or pushed tight. I find in my climate etc pushing tight generally keeps the ends in better condition. However today I finished wrapping the last few bales in a light rain so I left space between these last bales so they can breathe. I'm not saying this wrapping is for everyone. It just looks like a way to reduce waste and retain quality of expensive hay. Another thread here is discussing economics, costs etc. When times are tough I find we need to be especially careful with details - like reducing loss/deterioration of expensive, and in my case all purchased, winter hay. I am also looking at probably keeping maybe 20% of my expected annual hay needs in reserve. This wrapping should keep that hay in better shape longer. We'll see. Jim Edit: By the way, I was advised NOT to wrap the plastic over the edges since this would form a pocket for water to sit if any did get in - mold follows as most are aware. [/QUOTE]
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