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BALE STORAGE OPTIONS: TWINE, NET, OR WRAP?*



BALE STORAGE OPTIONS: TWINE, NET, OR WRAP?*

Round bales of hay can lose up to 30% of their dry
matter due to weathering losses when stored
unprotected. Storage options may include moving hay
inside or baling with machinery that will apply a
plastic netting or a solid plastic wrap around the
round edge of the bale. Research done by Dr. Michael
Collins at the University of Kentucky indicates that a
solid plastic wrapped bale loses significantly less dry
matter during storage than either twine tied bales or
net-wrapped bales.

The net wrap treatment did lower dry matter losses
compared to twine alone, but was less effective than
the solid plastic material. However, the netting has
the advantage of being somewhat stronger than solid
plastic material.

Dry matter losses from tall fescue round bales stored
inside or outside with different cover treatments. From
M. Collins and others, University of Kentucky. All
outside treatments were placed in direct contact with
the ground.

Treatment    Depth of Weathered  Dry Matter Loss, %(1)

Net Wrap                2.1       23.3
Plastic Wrap            0.6       7.8
Twine                   4.4       34.1
Inside                  0.0       5.7

(1)      Losses are the total of the weathered layer and
interior bale weight loss.

* From May 1995 Kentucky Forage News.