Mouldy bales

Bicki85

Hi lads , wondering do any of ye suffer with mouldy bales ?? I'm convinced the wrapper lad is skimping on wrap ! Am I right is this causing it ???

Muckit

Are they this year's bales? Is the mould all the way through? Where on the bale is the mould? Were the bales 'sitting' or put 'standing up'?

Before you blame the wrapper lad, are you 100% sure you didn't do damage bringing ib with handler. RUST on the handler arms is a terror for it. It leaves loads of small pin holes that you won't see just looking back from the tractor seat after tipping up, or won't see at all if you just stack them 'on the round.'

If this is not the case, the wrap got no tears and silage was baled in reasonably good condition, then your own hunch could be right.

_Brian

We would get it on the outside of an odd bale. Never bad enough to waste silage so don't bother too much about it.
If you were wasting much silage then that would be a problem as it's so expensive to make.

stack18

Bicki85 wrote: »

Hi lads , wondering do any of ye suffer with mouldy bales ?? I'm convinced the wrapper lad is skimping on wrap ! Am I right is this causing it ???

What plastic did you use do you know. We had trouble like that with topwrap 2000. Mould on the outside layers. Was told too that the grass was too dry for baling?

Sam Kade

_Brian wrote: »

We would get it on the outside of an odd bale. Never bad enough to waste silage so don't bother too much about it.
If you were wasting much silage then that would be a problem as it's so expensive to make.

Would you take off the mould patches if you were feeding to incalf cows?

Sam Kade

stack18 wrote: »

What plastic did you use do you know. We had trouble like that with topwrap 2000. Mould on the outside layers. Was told too that the grass was too dry for baling?

I used a roll of topwrap last year didn't see any problems with it but when I was looking for it this year the supplier told me that there is a certain way to set the wrapper for it.

Reggie.

Sam Kade wrote: »

Would you take off the mould patches if you were feeding to incalf cows?

I always take the mould off just to be safe as I don't think it's good for any cattle

Sam Kade

Reggie. wrote: »

I always take the mould off just to be safe as I don't think it's good for any cattle

So would I but if there were only the odd small patch I would feed it away to bullocks. I learned the hard way with cows years ago I fed dry dairy cows musty silage one year and paid the price for a few years after with cases of E coli mastitis. Now I always remove the smallest bit of mould for any breeding of incalf animals.

Reggie.

Sam Kade wrote: »

So would I but if there were only the odd small patch I would feed it away to bullocks. I learned the hard way with cows years ago I fed dry dairy cows musty silage one year and paid the price for a few years after with cases of E coli mastitis. Now I always remove the smallest bit of mould for any breeding of incalf animals.

I just remove the mould and throw it into the bedding

_Brian

Sam Kade wrote: »

Would you take off the mould patches if you were feeding to incalf cows?

No cows here but probably not if it's only light.

Green farmer

Contractors will put on the minimum 16 wraps I think on the bale. Double wrapping will cost extra per bale but might work out very cheap if it reduces the risk of mold. Quiet often the mold will only go in a few layers. Rest of bale should be ok.

GY A1

Sam Kade wrote: »

So would I but if there were only the odd small patch I would feed it away to bullocks. I learned the hard way with cows years ago I fed dry dairy cows musty silage one year and paid the price for a few years after with cases of E coli mastitis. Now I always remove the smallest bit of mould for any breeding of incalf animals.

would the mould cause that mastitis

Bicki85

Had two different contractors this year , for the bales in question we supplied the wrap anyway for contractor so he prob tryin do us a favour, will monitor it with other contractors bales because he put extra run on bales because it was reseeded ground with oats , it's just a query I have really, wouldn't be wasting a lot of silage, can't be good for cattle though

The Cuban

Are the bales soft/spongey and gone flat where they were put? If so then the contractor didnt pack the bales enough. If air remained in the bale then a lot of the silage would go black/ mouldy.
Show the contractor and ask him whats his game.

Dawggone

Not enough plastic.
Grass silage 24 wraps.
Wholecrop etc. 32 wraps.

Greengrass1

Dawggone wrote: »

Not enough plastic.
Grass silage 24 wraps.
Wholecrop etc. 32 wraps.

I put 20 on bales here. Alot less mould compared to the 16. Takes extra time and costs a bit more but its worth it
Takes 8 revolutions to cover a bale lads

Sam Kade

GY A1 wrote: »

would the mould cause that mastitis

I was told it would. it could also be from pulling in silage through the barrier and lying on it.

Bicki85

Greengrass1 wrote: »

I put 20 on bales here. Alot less mould compared to the 16. Takes extra time and costs a bit more but its worth it
Takes 8 revolutions to cover a bale lads

Yeah I've opened a few from other contractor , no sign of mould whatsoever, bales need sufficient cover on the wrap would be my thought now for definite

whelan2

GY A1 wrote: »

would the mould cause that mastitis

would handling the mould cause farmers lung?

cute geoge

A big cause of mould is silage being wilted too long without being turned i.e. silage left to wilt in swarth for more then 36 hours ,the bottom draws moisture off the ground and causes silage to get mould

Genghis Cant

cute geoge wrote: »

A big cause of mould is silage being wilted too long without being turned i.e. silage left to wilt in swarth for more then 36 hours ,the bottom draws moisture off the ground and causes silage to get mould

A bigger cause is poor quality wrap, not enough layers, poor bale handling, and bird damage.
I wouldn't subscribe to much to the grass drawing moisture from the ground theory. That's just me!

severeoversteer

6 layers here
ie. 54 turns of wrapper table on single dispenser wrapper

feeding 3 year old silage here at the minute, not even a square inch of mould

eric prydz

Was the bales chopped?

20silkcut

I am getting a lot of mold on my bales here in the form of a white fungus which seems to break out through the plastic where no hole had been. Very frustrating bought 4 roles of silage tape yesterday to beat it back. Grass is pretty stemmy IRG was turned twice in very good weather.

TUBBY

Anyone else think that the bales this year smell much stronger than last year.

Saw article from some expert saying people should be careful that there bales might not open as well this year etc.
Any thoughts.

grange mac

20silkcut wrote: »

I am getting a lot of mold on my bales here in the form of a white fungus which seems to break out through the plastic where no hole had been. Very frustrating bought 4 roles of silage tape yesterday to beat it back. Grass is pretty stemmy IRG was turned twice in very good weather.

Seen that on neighbours farm yesterday. Its like white warts on bales, he said from grass to dry being baled. I have no idea what they are.

Muckit

20silkcut wrote: »

I am getting a lot of mold on my bales here in the form of a white fungus which seems to break out through the plastic where no hole had been. Very frustrating bought 4 roles of silage tape yesterday to beat it back. Grass is pretty stemmy IRG was turned twice in very good weather.

Is the mould randomly around the bale or just in specific spot or line? Are they hard little mushrooms?

It's like the chicken and the egg as to which was there first hole or fungus. I personally don't there would be any fungus without a hole and air getting in. It needn't be a big easily visible hole. A series of small pin holes would be enough.

Bullocks

Is it just on the top of the bales ? Sometimes if there are birds landing on them their claws can put pin holes in the plastic that you would hardly see

Brass Tag

Two lots of bales made here 2nd week June.
First lot cut with mower conditioner, two rows grouped into one. Baled 24 hours later. Fair bit of effluent ran from bales and smell not pleasant. Flattened at the bottom over time in the stack.. Opened 9 so far and they are fine. Good colour, ok smell zero mould so far.

Second batch mowed with standard drum mower. Shook out twice and rowed up for baler. Baled 48 hours after cutting.
No effluent from bales and didn't flatten at the bottom over time.
Five opened so far. Disappointed! Mould on all so far. White grey mat of shiete on outside of bale. Not going in far but still not nice.

Both baled by same baler outfit and driver including wrapper.
4 layers of Volac Topwrap.

Limestone Cowboy

severeoversteer wrote: »

6 layers here
ie. 54 turns of wrapper table on single dispenser wrapper

feeding 3 year old silage here at the minute, not even a square inch of mould

21 turns should give you 6 layers

Brown Podzol

Sam Kade wrote: »

So would I but if there were only the odd small patch I would feed it away to bullocks. I learned the hard way with cows years ago I fed dry dairy cows musty silage one year and paid the price for a few years after with cases of E coli mastitis. Now I always remove the smallest bit of mould for any breeding of incalf animals.

I have heard of mycotoxins causing mastitis in cows and was controlled with mycotoxins binder which can be added to feed in a mill, although there is no mention of it here.

http://www.teagasc.ie/faol/livestockBestPractice/animalFeed/mycotoxins_Animal+Feed.asp

eire23

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

21 turns should give you 6 layers

16 turns gives you 4 layers, 24 gives you six layers.

Wast of time going with 20 or 21 turns as only half the bale gets extra wrap then. It takes 8 turns to fully wrap a bale, theres two layers on it then, another 8 turns and your at your standard 16 which is 4 layers. Then if you decide to put on the extra wrap you give it another 8 turns which ends up at 24 turns which is another two layers and that gives you the six layers.

Kovu

Brass Tag wrote: »

Two lots of bales made here 2nd week June.
First lot cut with mower conditioner, two rows grouped into one. Baled 24 hours later. Fair bit of effluent ran from bales and smell not pleasant. Flattened at the bottom over time in the stack.. Opened 9 so far and they are fine. Good colour, ok smell zero mould so far.

Second batch mowed with standard drum mower. Shook out twice and rowed up for baler. Baled 48 hours after cutting.
No effluent from bales and didn't flatten at the bottom over time.
Five opened so far. Disappointed! Mould on all so far. White grey mat of shiete on outside of bale. Not going in far but still not nice.

Both baled by same baler outfit and driver including wrapper.
4 layers of Volac Topwrap.

What was the weather like doing the second batch? Could they have been too dry?

Zr105

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

21 turns should give you 6 layers

I assumed the 5 was a miss type and meant to be a 2. Wouldn't like to be the poor buck on the wrapper doing 54 turns, you'd be off every 8or 9 bales to change rolls

Also eire is spot on 24turns to get 6 layers, great fun trying to explain to some lads when they tell you to "put on a little bit extra sure" that it means they'll only get 20bales to a roll....

eire23

Zr105 wrote: »

I assumed the 5 was a miss type and meant to be a 2. Wouldn't like to be the poor buck on the wrapper doing 54 turns, you'd be off every 8or 9 bales to change rolls

Also eire is spot on 24turns to get 6 layers, great fun trying to explain to some lads when they tell you to "put on a little bit extra sure" that it means they'll only get 20bales to a roll....

Thats true, back to the 4 layers then when they hear that:D

Another way that could have pin holes in a bale is if there was pebbles or chippings kicked up from the wheels on the back mat or little bits of dirt on the rollers of the pre stretch unit. Simple things that could be easily missed.

Zr105

eire23 wrote: »

Thats true, back to the 4 layers then when they hear that:D

Another way that could have pin holes in a bale is if there was pebbles or chippings kicked up from the wheels on the back mat or little bits of dirt on the rollers of the pre stretch unit. Simple things that could be easily missed.

It quietens them fairly quick alright, but at the same time all it takes is for one lad to go to 6layers and see the benefit and it sparks off he next.. It does make it an awful lot easier to handle bales to, especially if they have to be loaded and drawn..

severeoversteer

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

21 turns should give you 6 layers

i just tell the wrapper man 6 layers of plastic, please and thankyou

20silkcut

Muckit wrote: »

Is the mould randomly around the bale or just in specific spot or line? Are they hard little mushrooms?

It's like the chicken and the egg as to which was there first hole or fungus. I personally don't there would be any fungus without a hole and air getting in. It needn't be a big easily visible hole. A series of small pin holes would be enough.

It is mostly around damaged areas or previously patched areas. But a few bales it just sprouted through perfect plastic like warts. Developed into a fine white mushroom formation. Will put a picture up later.

Muckit

That'd be great. Do you tip them by any chance?

Brass Tag

Kovu wrote: »

What was the weather like doing the second batch? Could they have been too dry?

I think they must have been too dry. Weather was ok, but by no means hay weather if you know what I mean.

Reggie.

Brass Tag wrote: »

I think they must have been too dry. Weather was ok, but by no means hay weather if you know what I mean.

Would ya be better off not tedding then sometimes

Brass Tag

Reggie. wrote: »

Would ya be better off not tedding then sometimes

Perhaps. Reading back through other threads on here the "grass" and "dairy", boys and girls, are mowing and tedding and wilting and claim to have bales of super duper nectar as a result!
Not saying they are not getting top results, but maybe they are putting on extra wrap!!! Must try harder next year!

Greengrass1

Bales here dry as a bone this yr. Weighing 650 kgs. Must be 200kgd of dm in them judging by how far there going.
No tedding just conditioner mower and picked up the next day.
If its mowed dry (afternoon and no dew) the bales are dry we find

20silkcut

Here is a few pics of the mould

GY A1

20silkcut wrote: »

Here is a few pics of the mould

ya, do have them on an odd bale too, grows out like a mushroom

DarByrne1980

20silkcut wrote: »

Here is a few pics of the mould

mighthave been mentioned b4 but there isnt a small split in the plastic at those points? does it grow on that part of the bale because that gets the most direct sunshine/heat?

20silkcut

Yes it generally grows in damaged areas but in those two pics it sprouted through I un damaged plastic.

Reggie.

20silkcut wrote: »

Yes it generally grows in damaged areas but in those two pics it sprouted through I un damaged plastic.

Sounds very unusual

Kovu

You say it was stemmy silkcut, would it be possible that some of the stronger ends managed to break through the first couple of wraps when it was being wrapped. The covering would then only be a couple of layers thick.

sandydan

20silkcut wrote: »

Here is a few pics of the mould

that is what i had last year and imo its caused by baling too quick, fella driving like rally driver paid per bale by contractor, had at least 30 bales ruined, got discount from contractor, right annoying , had about 50 left over i couldn't sell, opened some in last week to feed to bullocks and dumped them. have 3 pins in handler to transport other wise they'd collapse:mad:
imo any mouldy bales should not be fed to cows or ewes if abortions are to avoided according to my vet anyway. a garage man in cork who sells balers told me he sold a baler to a contractor in a certain area , anyway he agreed to deliver a pallet of wrap and mesh one weekend personally and in field saw driver going too fast in his opinion and said so , he was told in no uncertain terms he could take his wrap away if he wanted , anyways he said in following year contractor in question had a quiet year and more than one farmer who he met said that type of baler was a bad joke, reason only mouldy loose bales after baling by guess who.

20silkcut

Kovu wrote: »

You say it was stemmy silkcut, would it be possible that some of the stronger ends managed to break through the first couple of wraps when it was being wrapped. The covering would then only be a couple of layers thick.

Yes I reckon this is the cause the crop was well headed out when it was cut very stemmy IRG much coarser than normal silage but wrapped like normal silage . It's not fierce bad most of the bales are perfect . Where I come across these growths I cover them with silage tape .