How many wraps do you give your bales?

Jack180570

Interesting research article on the number of wraps given to a bale and the level of subsequent waste... 4 wraps = 9% waste.... 6 or 8 wraps = under 1% waste....

And the most interesting/strange finding... 'The spoilage in the bales wrapped with green film was nil, irrespective of the number of layers of wrap used'

http://www.silageadvice.com/library/articles/effects-film-colours-and-number-wrap-layers-silage-quality

We wrap with 6 layers and find it pretty good, what is yer experience?

ganmo

Jack180570 wrote: »

Interesting research article on the number of wraps given to a bale and the level of subsequent waste... 4 wraps = 9% waste.... 6 or 8 wraps = under 1% waste....

And the most interesting/strange finding... 'The spoilage in the bales wrapped with green film was nil, irrespective of the number of layers of wrap used'

http://www.silageadvice.com/library/articles/effects-film-colours-and-number-wrap-layers-silage-quality

We wrap with 6 layers and find it pretty good, what is yer experience?

I'd be curious why the green was nil I recall teagasc tried to see if the crows had any preference, but they didn't care

Jack180570

ganmo wrote: »

I'd be curious why the green was nil I recall teagasc tried to see if the crows had any preference, but they didn't care

I don't know ganmo... just think I will be using green this year because of the study!... don't think it costs any more?

Also thinking of sticking with the 6 wraps... don't see much improvement for 8 in that study and from using this year they were fine.
A bit scary to see 10% wastage in the 4 wraps... if the bale is worth 15e then it would be a no cost option to go from 4 wraps to 6 wraps if my calculations are right, the reduced spoilage would pay for the extra 2 wraps?

Where would I sent silage samples to get analysed? have a couple of bales out to sheep at the moment and getting curious how good/bad it is.

Also where would I sent meal samples to get analysed? Using a mix of 40% rolled barley, 40% whole oats and 20% peas or beans... a couple of my farming friends are saying that it might be a bit low on protein and that my sheep should be in better condition now than they are...

Green farmer

I double wrap. Don't know how much wraps that equates too, think it costs an extra €2 a bale. Very little waste. Don't know why whenever you try and buy the stuff the only thing on sale is always black.

JohnHolland

In 2013 i used black, green, white and clear wrap throughout the year on my bales. All got 6 layers. The crows had no preferrance themselves. They were all the very same in winter. Some had no mould, some a pike full and some a wheelbarrow. The silage looked and smelled identical. I used black wrap since and have no problems with it. These were the only differences I noticed. 1. The white plastic kept tearing in the wrapper. 2. The black bales were hot, the green bales warm and the white bales cold to the touch in summer sunshine.