The advantages of baled silage over the clamp or silo method are well documented:
• Bales suffer lower levels of aerobic spoilage compared to clamp silage.• Less dry matter (DM) is lost (less than 5 to 10 percent) during production and storage than clamp silage.
• Individual bales are easy to handle and allow silage of different qualities to be fed as required.
• Bales offer the ideal solution to take advantage of surplus in season or autumn grass.
• A flexible storage system allows bales to remain stored in the field or transported readily when required.
• Feeding out one bale does not expose the entire silage stock to the risk of oxygen ingress.
• There is a low risk of pollution or effluent runoff.
• Handling is less capital-intensive.
• Surplus bales can be sold as a cash crop.
The loss of DM from harvesting to feedout time poses a significant challenge for most bale silage production systems.
Many of these losses are avoidable by following good bale management practices. In addition, producers must use wrap materials properly and treat wrapped bales with great care.
Fundamentally, it is vital that oxygen-free conditions exist within the wrapped bale right through to feedout time.
Holes and tear damages in the wrap caused by repetitive double-handling, transport or stubble puncture will allow air to quickly enter the bale.
This, in turn, converts the sugars and acids into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water, leading to the rapid growth of microorganisms which create an environment where yeasts and molds will thrive.
The result is a spoiled crop which has lost much of its nutritional value and can create serious hygiene and welfare issues for your livestock.
So how can you dramatically increase the quality of your baled silage?
Most conventional wrapping machines are trailed units whereby the bale is picked up, wrapped and deposited in the field.
The wrapped bales are then collected, placed on a trailer and taken to a stocking area. They are then unloaded and placed in storage. That’s a lot of handling, and bale damages are inevitable.
A slightly better solution is to use a stationary wrapper which may be placed near the final storage site.
Unwrapped bales are taken from the field, placed on the wrapper, subsequently wrapped and discharged or picked up from the wrapper.
Again, there is the risk of damage to the wrapped bale during transfer and handling to the final storage point.
So how can you avoid handling the bale after the wrapping process?
Revolutionary new high-speed wrappers are now available which can easily be fitted to most tractor front loaders or telehandlers.
With the push of a button on the cab-mounted controller, the wrapping cycle begins as robust self-loading rollers easily pick up a freshly made bale in the field.
While the operator is driving to the prepared stacking area, the bale is automatically being securely wrapped.
On arrival at the prepared stacking area, the operator can stack the wrapped bale either on end (preferably) or load it directly to a trailer for road transport.
This system also eliminates the need for an additional tractor or power pack to operate a trailed or stationary wrapper, resulting in lower operating costs. FG
Martin Maye is the sales manager for Tanco Autowrap Ltd in Ireland.
