round bales vs. square bales

[ddl]

Are you sure that twine is not used if plastic wrap is used? I think twine is still used, but a plastic wrap is added. The plastic wrap would never hold the bale together. I will know for sure when I see my brother tomorrow, for he is a farmer coming to visit.

Dan L

 

[Bird]

Yep, Dan, I'm sure. I've never seen both twine and plastic wrap used, but that doesn't mean such doesn't exist; only that if it does, I'm not familiar with it. And the plastic wrap that I'm familiar with holds the bale together better than the twine does.

Bird

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: Hey Paul........

jd,
Yes that is true about the salt.

 

[cowboydoc]

Dan,
Birds right. My baler only has the plastic wrap.

 

[Woodbeef]

Salt and Net Wrap

JD Kid is correct on the salt. It will pull the moisture.

As for net wrap,you can use it with out the twine. It seems to work better than twine,but harder to dispose of in the field.

 

[jdkid]

Hi ya
2 kinds of plastic wrap 1 is a net that is used insted of string and the other is for wraping baled sliage (like cling film) and that is added after baleing but i see in the UK ya can get a kit that puts a outer wrap of plastic (not net) for out side storeing and a new baler that wraps baled sliage as ya baleing and only uses wrap to hold it together 1 toy that chops ,bales and wraps 1 guy 1 tractor ,that would fit me to a T as we don't have heaps of gear or people to drive it
catch ya
JD Kid

 

[Bird]

JD, I know there's an awful lot of stuff out there that I haven't seen yet. The plastic wrap that I'm familiar with is a clear plastic, and it's perforated so it can "breath". And of course, it wraps around the bale, leaving the ends open. But I've also seen a few bales that used an opaque white plastic wrap that covered the entire bale; ends and all. I haven't seen the machine that did it, but apparently it's what you're talking about because I was told it was baled silage.

Wish I'd had my camera with me last month to make a picture of a silage storage place I saw being filled about 15 miles from here. Last year I noticed a big concrete slab being poured on a tract of land out in the country and wondered why anyone would be building a big warehouse out there. Then they built some high concrete walls on the two long sides. Last month, I was passing by there and the big trucks were hauling in silage and there was one of those big articulated 8 wheeled John Deeres with a front blade up on top, smoothing, leveling, and packing it. I don't think it's quite as big as a football field, although it may be; definitely the biggest "silo" I've ever seen. I was by there a couple of days ago and it's now full and covered with plastic.

Bird

 

[patrickg]

About round vs square regarding spoilage etc. Round bales contain more volume of feed per unit of surface area. So more feed with less weather/air contact. The thatched roof way it is rolled up, there isn't any "end grain" to invite water penetration from snow/rain. Stored inside not too much advantage but round still has less surface contact with air than square, especially small square.

I have no hay "loft", just a hay barn which isn't going to be near enough full of round bales this fall. With care, round bales can be stacked by regular folks (not by hand of course, stay way clear of anyone who handles round bales by hand). Although I did see advertisements for little balers than made the cutest little bales, I mean tiny little bales. They had balers for little bitty square bales and tiny little round bales that could be stacked on end three high (that would be about 6-7 feet high). I think this equipment was class 0 (zero or for jdkid, naught) or smaller. Then they make all kinds of implements for 4 wheelers, cost like the real thing but are cute little miniatures that make folks with riding lawnmowers and 4 wheelers feel like regular folks.

And in closing alow me to say... I have seen trailers designed to carry round bales. I think it was 4 abreast (might have been 3 but I think it was 4), it was dark and he was going fast in opposite direction. There were curved semi-circle kinda thingies cradling the bales so the first course didn't need to be strapped down. It was a gooseneck trailer with at least three axles set up with dual wheels.

Patrick

 

[jdkid]

Hi ya
yep true bout feed area ..nother tip for ya's is stack rounds N-S NOT east- west ok sounds funny but think of the sun ,if E-W sun only shines on one side and other side is in the dark makeing more mould/rot stacking N-S sun shines on both side during the day
catch ya's
JD Kid

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>I think it was 4 abreast</font color=blue>

Now that would be something I've never seen. Even those little 4' bales would amount to 16' wide./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Lots of trailers around here made for hauling 4 to 6 bales at a time, end to end; both 4 wheeled "wagons", regular pull trailers, and goose neck trailers. The ones I've used (5 bales at a time) "cradle" the bales and have a latch you release to dump (roll) them all off the side at once.

Bird