Tama Assist The Role of Wrapping Bales in Improving Crop and Hay Quality
Wrapping bales is more than just a storage solution – it can preserve and enhance the quality of your forage and hay. Whether you’re using plastic bale wrappers, opting for twine to secure bales, or choosing bale netwrap, your choice can impact the nutritional value of your forage.
Each method of securing and wrapping bales has a role in maintaining or improving hay quality. Let’s explore these options:
1. Twine: The traditional approach to wrapping bales
An economical choice, twine still has its place in securing bales:
- Quality twine helps bales maintain their form during storage and transport.
- Modern UV-stabilised twine lasts longer than cheaper twine options.
- The spacing in twine-wrapped bales allows for airflow.
2. Bale netwrap: The protective champion
Bale netwrap improves bale protection and the quality of baled forage.
- The speed of applying bale netwrap reduces baling time.
- Netwrapped bales are denser, reducing air pockets and the risk of spoilage.
- Tighter wrapping means less leaf loss, significant for protein-rich hays.
- Bales with netwrap repel water more effectively, important for outdoor storage.
3. Plastic bale wrap and stretch wrap: For forage fermentation
Plastic wrap for hay bales can improve forage quality.
- By creating an anaerobic environment, plastic-wrapped bales undergo fermentation, enhancing taste and nutritional value.
- Plastic wrap allows for baling at higher moisture contents, enabling the production of haylage and silage.
- The airtight seal of plastic-wrapped bales offers superior weather protection.
- Plastic bale wrap is used to make individual bales of haylage and silage. This enables the sale of surplus stock of ensiled bales.
Your choice of bale wrapper can influence your forage’s nutritional profile:
- Wrapping bales with netwrap or plastic reduces moisture and rodent spoilage.
- Well-wrapped bales maintain higher levels of soluble carbohydrates.
- Effective wrapping methods that exclude light and air, help preserve nutrients through the ensiling process.
When selecting a method for wrapping hay bales, consider these factors:
- Crop type: Some forages benefit from certain wrapping methods.
- Storage duration: For long-term storage or transporting bales, opt for plastic-wrapped bales or netwrapped bales. Bales retain their shape better and may offer better quality preservation.
- Climate conditions: Netwrap or plastic-wrapped bales provide superior moisture protection.
- Nutritional goals: If maximising protein content is crucial, consider methods that best preserve leaves, like netwrap or plastic wrap.
Tama has the whole package – from versatile TamaTwine+™ to airtight plastic wrap for silage, and netwrap. Tama bale netwrap products are durable and made with UV stabilisers to prevent degradation when stored outside. To reduce plastic, consider TamaCycle Twine, made with 30% recycled materials.
Contact the Tama team today for advice tailored to your specific farming needs.