The Top Causes of Bale Breakage (and How to Prevent It)
After all the hard work of cutting, tedding, and baling in tight weather windows, few things are more frustrating than finding bales that have collapsed or burst open. Broken bales mean wasted feed and lower reserves when you need to get your herd through the winter.
The good news? The causes of bale breakage are almost always predictable. In this blog, we cover the most common issues and share our top tips for preventing bale breakage.
1. Check your baler settings
Nine times out of ten, the issue is baler settings or the machine’s condition, so this should always be the first thing you check. Something as simple as dirty rollers on your round baler can cause wear on your netwrap, resulting in bales that later burst open.
Other common issues include:
- incorrect settings for bale shape or issues with bale density
- uneven crop pickup causing poorly balanced (and weaker) bales
- rusty (or newly painted) chamber walls
- incorrect tension settings
In all cases, ensure you’re following the manufacturer’s instructions for your model of baler, and that the settings are right for the crop you’re baling. If you’re still having issues, reach out to Tama Assist.
2. Ensure you’re baling at the right moisture content
The ideal moisture content for baled hay is:
- 15–18% for round bales
- 18–20% for small square bales
- 12–15% for large square bales
Baling hay when it’s too wet can cause mould and spoilage, with bales sagging or breaking over time (and obviously unfit to feed out). In the worst cases, high moisture creates ideal conditions for microbes to multiply, heating the bale from the inside. This may eventually cause spontaneous combustion.
Conversely, baling too dry can result in loose bales, which tend to break apart easily during handling.
3. Avoid rough handling during transport and hay bale storage
It’s an obvious point, but how you handle (and stack) your hay affects how well it keeps its shape in the long run. Bales that are stacked improperly, or whose netwrap is damaged during handling, are more prone to sagging or bursting open.
Be careful not to drag or scrape bales while moving them. For round bales, spearing the bale on the flat end is usually a better option than using forks that can damage your netwrap.
4. Use quality baling products
Using high-quality netwrap goes a long way towards keeping round bales in perfect condition, both during and after bale wrapping. If you buy poor quality wrap, there’s a greater chance of the mesh tearing or becoming brittle, especially if it lacks proper UV stabilisation.
Products like Tama’s TamaNet+ Edge To Edge® are formulated with mesh lock technology that prevents laddering and keeps bales intact during handling. They’re also engineered to provide superior grip and weather protection, keeping your bales safe even in tough conditions.
Similarly, twine products like TamaTwine+ IMPAX LSB Long are designed to provide superior knotting performance and shock resistance during baling, keeping your square baling operation firmly on track.
Covering all bases
As any farmer knows, nothing’s ever guaranteed when it comes to work around the farm. But by taking these precautions, you give your bales the best possible chance of staying intact, fresh, and ready for feeding out when needed.
Need more help with baling and bale breakage issues? Head over to our knowledge centre to learn more, or reach out to a Tama expert today.
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