round baling silage

[jimg]

A quick question about round baling silage: will all balers handle this? If not what would I look for in a silage capable baler?

Well, guess I have one more question: Does anyone here put up silage in wrapped round bales? If so how successful has that been (esp in the feeding it out phase)? If you could do it again would you opt for a different system?

 

[chh]

I have never baled silage, but I have looked at baler models labeled to be silage balers. Usually, if I remember correctly, you have a more aggressive pickup and feed system, because the crop is still wet and heavy. There may be other parts that are beefed up or more aggressive also. A standard baler would probably plug trying to pickup silage.
Some of the European silage balers acutally have a knife/cutter system which chops the hay as it goes into the bale chamber.

 

[jimg]

I see, makes sense the pickup would be heavier. Im really very unfamiliar w/ round balers. How is it theyd plug...at the pickup?

My interest is in regard to cattle, Im getting some soon and would rather feed silage during the winter if possible as it takes less time to put up and is a higher protein/energy feed source. Any excess I think I could sell.

 

[chh]

Generally a round baler can plug where the hay leaves the pickup and starts into the bale chamber. I have not had any trouble in hay in quite awhile. I had an older baler that was would do it under about anything less than ideal conditions.
A local man bought a Vermeer 504 silage baler several years ago and a bale wrapper. I never talked to him about how he liked it or anything, but he went to using the baler as a standard baler and sold the wrapper after a couple of years.

 

[slowzuki]

Jim sileage is really hard to sell around here unless you're talking tractor trailer loads, and even they not much profit.

 

[jimg]

Why is that...b/c it cant be easily tested or just not in a form which is readily transported? Just curious...not sure how the market is around here. Perhaps its like your area...dont know. I do know its better feed than dry hay if put up properly.

 

[slowzuki]

The bales are so heavy small buyers can't handle them, and they often don't have a squeeze to move them without busting the plastic. Also, a lot of horse people are biased against silage.

 

[JasG]

Around here there is almost no market for silage bales. The market is to do the bailing and/or wrapping for people. A friend of mine has looked into this and has had bales made for himself, but has only been able to sell about 1/2 of them over the years.
The advantage is now you can put up both dry hay and silage with one machine, but the market for round bales of both wet and dry isn't very good. Horse farmers want small square bales. Most farmers can put in silage in one form or another themselves. Dry hay is a premium depending on quality and the amount on the market.
The difference in the balers are a few, heavier components, also the belts I have been told were different. Silage balers usually have a slicer that cuts the bales as they are made so they fall apart easier (non-silage can also have this). Some have a different design of chamber.

 

[Kessler Farms]

Are you talking about corn silage? alfalfa haylage? wheatlage? It all depends on what product you're talking about. I'm going to assume you don't mean trying to bale whole stalk corn. You can bale corn stalks with a normal baler, but it's slow and hard on the roller. You can make good haylage with any hay roller, it just won't feed as fast. I normally turn my roll size down a foot or so to make them easier to move with a small tractor. The moisture needs to be right to get proper ensiling or you will have excessive heat damage or under fermentation. Good hay is easier to make, less expensive, and easier to keep. Unless you are feeding high performance animals such as feeder steers on feedlot or dairy cattle, I wouldn't bother. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Tul01]

Around here also there is not much market for the sale of silage bales. A few of the smaller dairy farmers, such as my dad use round bales with the long tube style wrap with effective results for us before he sold out a couple years ago. We baled alfalfa silage for years with a JD535 with no modifications, just make the bales smaller because of the weight. As stated, it is very important to get the correct moisture and be sure there are no holes in the plastic. I think anything mobile in my dad's yard still has a roll of tape in it in the event you pass by and see a hole in the bag

Brent