Most farmers already know the answer to this question, as it largely depends on the equipment available on the farm. A baler produces square or rectangular bales, but most modern farms already use round balers, which wrap hay or straw into rolls.
Here’s how a baler works:
And here’s how a round baler works:
In addition to technical differences, there are also differences in the types of wrapping materials used. Twine is best suited for balers, while round balers typically use a bale net wrap though older models may also work only with twine. Unfortunately, twine does not provide sufficient protection for hay. You can read more about that here.
Most modern round balers can work with both bale net wrap and twine. Farmers increasingly choose bale net wrap for baling rolls. For example, Polypak bale net wrap fits most popular baler models.
On many fields, straw is baled immediately after the combine harvester passes. It is recommended that straw not lie in the field for more than 7 days, as this negatively affects its quality, especially in rainy regions.
Both balers and round balers are used for straw. If the straw will later be used as bedding, it’s better to chop it down to about 2 cm, which is possible with certain round balers.
Regardless of its future use, straw must be kept dry, as high moisture levels can lead to mold growth. In such cases, even using it as bedding becomes risky, as it may cause various illnesses in animals. For example, cows may develop bacterial or fungal mastitis.
That’s why we recommend reading our storage tips for round bales.
Unlike straw, hay needs to retain as many leaves as possible during harvest—this is where most of the animal-beneficial protein is found.
We recommend harvesting hay at night using a round baler, and wrapping it with either bale net wrap or stretch film. This method helps preserve the maximum nutritional value of the feedstuff.
If you’re harvesting alfalfa, it should be done before the budding stage. Ideally, only 15–30 % of the plants in the field should have visible buds. At this stage, the crop still contains 85–90 % dry matter.
Harvesting meadow grasses for hay is easier than alfalfa. They can also be wrapped with twine, and any baling equipment may be used. This is because grasses lack leaves, so precision is less critical than with alfalfa.
Storing meadow hay is just as important as storing straw. You must protect it from mold and mildew by keeping it dry and well-ventilated.
2020 All Rights Reserved.
2020 All Rights Reserved.