Wrapping hay?

Cattlepen

Just wondering has anyone ever wrapped bales of hay that is two weeks made? If so was it a success and how many wraps? Just wondering would it be an option to save shed space

White Clover

Cattlepen wrote: »

Just wondering has anyone ever wrapped bales of hay that is two weeks made? If so was it a success and how many wraps? Just wondering would it be an option to save shed space

Done it here several times. It'll come out the same as it went in. Usually put on 4 or 6 layers depending on when it'll be fed.

hopeso

The general advice is to increase the wrap on high dry matter crops, so I’d say you were better off going with six layers.

_Brian

Would it not be cheaper to stack and cover it ?

Donald Trump

You mean wrapping it two weeks after it is baled rather than being baled and wrapped two weeks after being on the ground?

It won't be packed as tightly in the bale for one. More air in the bale. Although posters above have experience of doing it. Anytime something like that was done here, it was baled with intention of wrapping it

BENDYBINN

Would the plastic that mchales use instead of netting on silage be a better option for hay also?

hopeso

BENDYBINN wrote: »

Would the plastic that mchales use instead of netting on silage be a better option for hay also?

It would probably protect the bale better if they were left on the field for a while, but somehow I'd imagine it would do more harm than good. I'd say freshly baled hay would surely sweat under it?

Dakota Dan

_Brian wrote: »

Would it not be cheaper to stack and cover it ?

That's a disaster. I did it years ago stacked pyramid and covered with tarp, ended up with a heap of dung. The bales have to breadth so the tarp should not be in contact with the bales.

kingdom fan

Dakota Dan wrote: »

_Brian wrote: »

Would it not be cheaper to stack and cover it ?

That's a disaster. I did it years ago stacked pyramid and covered with tarp, ended up with a heap of dung. The bales have to breadth so the tarp should not be in contact with the bales.

I did the same. Half in shed half under tarp. Tarp stopped about 2 to 3 feet off ground all around. Weighted with tyres everywhere. Disaster. Hay was dusty. Mouldy, and black. Not ding by any means but total sh1t. I was half afraid feeding it so would only feed a bale here and there to different pens of cattle.
I put up another Hay shed, such was the disgust I had for the waste.

Odelay

I think the issue with tarp is warm air hits it in the winter and causes condensation, similar to a basic cladded roof.
Would there be better luck stacking the bales on end and covering just the top with plastic held with a ratchet strap around the top?

50HX

BENDYBINN wrote: »

Would the plastic that mchales use instead of netting on silage be a better option for hay also?

The compression film. ....

I used this on hay/bedding a few years back as a trial
Had a good share of it and no shed space so said I chance it

It worked out fine .... the outside few inches got wet but the rest of the bale was perfect


Used it as bedding for calving down