Why are hay bales wrapped in different colours

Why are haybales wrapped in different colours

You’ve probably seen bale net wraps in a wide variety of colors from plain white to bright shades or even designs featuring national flags. But does this actually affect the product? What do the color intensity or specific colors mean? Is there any real sense behind it all? Let’s break it down in this article.

Do colored threads have different strength?

There’s a myth that the colored threads, usually found on the sides of the net wrap, are stronger and pull the hay bales tighter on the edges so that the bale holds its shape for longer. From a visual standpoint, that might seem logical. However, in reality, the colored threads in bale net wrap are no different from the rest aside from the color itself. They have the same technical properties in terms of strength and tension. The only difference is the added pigment, which has no effect on the core performance and doesn’t make the threads stronger or weaker than the rest.

If we assumed this myth were true, altering the formula for specific threads would actually result in distorted, irregularly shaped round bales from the balers. This would make the bales break apart more quickly, and farmers would lose their stored feed earlier than planned. By the way, if you’re having issues with bales losing shape after wrapping, check out our blog article: Why bales break.

So, the idea that colored bale net wraps, or their colored sections, are somehow better than others is completely false. It’s a myth.

Why do manufacturers dye bale net wraps in different colors?

So why do net wrap producers add colors to the threads if it doesn’t affect technical performance? The answer is simple: branding. Product branding helps promote the goods. That’s why those in the know can often tell which manufacturer a farmer bought their bale net wrap from just by the color of the wrapped bale.

As a manufacturer, we also offer several types of bale net wrap with different strength ratings: 270 kg, 290 kg, and 310 kg. This allows us to provide our customers with the ideal wrapping material for various types of forage crops. For example, wrapping straw and stalks typically requires stronger netting than hay or an additional turn of the wrap, which increases material usage.

Check out this table for our recommendations on wrap usage depending on the type of forage and the net wrap used (Polypak brand):

Custom branding for bale net wrap

If you order round bale net wrap directly from us, you can also request custom branding. This service can include both changing the thread colors to whatever you like and branding the roll’s packaging itself.

You can read more about all of this and the benefits of branded bale net wrap in another article on our website: Your branded bale net wrap.

And of course, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions we’re always happy to chat.