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why aren't big square bales more popular?

  • 22-06-2014 4:22pm
    #1
    farawaygrass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,998 ✭✭✭


    was in england a few years back,and big square bales of silage everywhere. thought they were very handy.also i'm sure you'd stack alot more hay/straw would fit in shed that round


Comments

  • #2
    micraX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 752 ✭✭✭micraX


    Harder to handle I guess, most lads are only set up for round bales and don't really want to change.


  • #3
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,459 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    Heavier bales therefore you need bigger equipment to handle them as micraX said.
    Believe it or not - most farms in Ireland are small in terms of acreage and therefore a 50-80hp two wheel drive tractor is sufficient for their needs.
    Farms in England are not comparable to us Irish.
    I read somewhere that Ireland has more roads per hectare than any other EU member state. An indication of how fragmented our farmland is.


  • #4
    visatorro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,559 ✭✭✭visatorro


    I know we always used round bales of straw. Used big squares last year and wouldn't look back. Using them for hay and silage, as said earlier that alot of people are set up with ring feeders. People are resistant to change aswell!


  • #5
    Farrell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,262 ✭✭✭Farrell


    visatorro wrote: »
    I know we always used round bales of straw. Used big squares last year and wouldn't look back. Using them for hay and silage, as said earlier that alot of people are set up with ring feeders. People are resistant to change aswell!

    Used large square & round straw bales.
    For beding & feeding I found the rounds handier as you could roll the out.
    Each to their own set-up


  • #6
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,459 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    We use large squares of straw for feeding and bedding, however we have a lorry to transport them to our place and a 50b to handle them.
    I have never seen large squares of silage and to be honest I would hate to have to handle them. I would imagine that they would be hard on wheel bearings etc.


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  • #7
    Zr105
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,453 ✭✭✭Zr105


    The cost of wrapping big squares is the most prohibitive part of using them for silage, the cost of the wrappers are mega bucks and them the amount of plastic used is way more than with 4ft rounds, also because of the flat sides the seal isn't always the best on them.

    The mchale would be the most common wrapper for them and the biggest it can manage is about a 6ft length, in any section size, but the most commonly used size when it comes to wrapping(hayledge or silage) would be the 3ft*3ft bales(80cm*90cm). weight wise they'd probably only be around the same as a 4ft round so there's no real advantage to them when all costs are taken into account, especially as they require different handlers etc...


  • #8
    blue5000
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,756 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    Have got straw in big squares in the past, it's true you get a lot more straw into a shed, and they are ok for bedding, but not as easy to feed as rounds. Also if straw or hay is baled before it's fit, round is better than big squares.

    Fantastic twines on big squares though;)

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



  • #9
    grumpyfarmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 216 ✭✭grumpyfarmer


    Jeez I most certainly be backwards.. I'd nearly prefer to go back to small squares for straw...


  • #10
    darragh_haven
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,433 ✭✭✭darragh_haven


    grumpyfarmer wrote: »
    Jeez I most certainly be backwards.. I'd nearly prefer to go back to small squares for straw...

    Your one of those "pain is pleasure" type of fellas are ya (gimp mask optional)


  • #11
    Pacoa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 520 ✭✭✭Pacoa


    What's the price of a new big square baler? I've a feeling they're over 100k.


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  • #12
    grumpyfarmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 216 ✭✭grumpyfarmer


    darragh_haven wrote: »
    Your one of those "pain is pleasure" type of fellas are ya (gimp mask optional)

    Ha ha I must be.. Nah I just always found them handy in the spring bedding calving boxes and the like..


  • #13
    GRASSorMUCK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 294 ✭✭GRASSorMUCK


    Pacoa wrote: »
    What's the price of a new big square baler? I've a feeling they're over 100k.

    More 130k pounds for massey 2190/70? xd, + if going for big output with big machine going by neighbours around here 200 hp+ in front. :eek:.


  • #14
    farawaygrass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,998 ✭✭✭farawaygrass


    price is the main reason then, or else at least one fella around most area's would have one just to be different!


  • #15
    GRASSorMUCK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 294 ✭✭GRASSorMUCK


    farawaygrass wrote: »
    price is the main reason then, or else at least one fella around most area's would have one just to be different!

    Well, my contract farmer neighbour has one and loaded with the extra's that the price he said. Now personally id say knock 15-20 off but still. :eek:


  • #16
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    GRASSorMUCK wrote: »
    More 130k pounds for massey 2190/70? xd, + if going for big output with big machine going by neighbours around here 200 hp+ in front. :eek:.

    How many bales a yr would you have to make to pay for one of them? Two sold in this area last yr


  • #17
    GRASSorMUCK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 294 ✭✭GRASSorMUCK


    Greengrass1 wrote: »
    How many bales a yr would you have to make to pay for one of them? Two sold in this area last yr

    They say 10k bales, though guess depends on lots of things?
    In straw at least will do 500+ per day in bigish fields in dry straw. Bit less in irish conditions, but then it's like in uk will get 30+ days harvest where as Ireland maybe 14 over late july to late sept on average?


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