Although handling bales immediately after they have been wrapped poses the risk of damaging the plastic, ensuring they are stored correctly is also important.

Correct storage of bales is vital in preserving and retaining the quality and nutritional value of the feed inside.

Having invested time and money into making the bales, it is crucial they are handled carefully and stored correctly in order to ensure that the airtight seal is maintained until the bale is required for feeding.

A high-quality crop, hours spent cutting, a good-quality wrap and expert wrapping techniques will all be wasted if the resultant bales are not stacked and stored correctly, or if they have been left in an unsuitable environment.

Poor handling and storage can cause the bale to puncture, or damage the airtight seal between the film layers, which lead to spoilage and mould.

Three factors that can affect silage bales are:

Location

When deciding on a location to stack the bales, it is important to select an uncluttered storage site, from which the bales can be conveniently and safely removed at feeding time. You should also choose a level, smooth, and, where possible, hard and well-drained area on which to store the bales.

Wet ground or uneven surfaces can increase the risk of bale spoilage as well as increasing the potential for accidents when bales are being moved. If bales are being stored in a field, it is advisable to lay out heavy gauge polythene sheeting underneath – this can help limit any potential damage to bales

Stacking

Always use a purpose-built bale handler when stacking bales. Avoid using a spike that could puncture the airtight seal of the bale, as this will disrupt the fermentation process that usually takes upwards of four weeks.

Where space permits, best practice is to store round bales on their flat ends. However, this is not practical in most cases. The safest method is to stack them on their curved sides in a pyramid shape with chocks underneath the end bales.

Stacking round bales on their ends is not recommended as bales can have a tendency to shift due to the variable density of the material inside the bale.

The maximum height of the stack should be no more than three bales. Above this height the bales lower in the stack will become squashed and are likely to burst.

Bales of low-dry-matter silage (which are heavier) should be stored in a single layer. This also prevents bales at the bottom being squashed.

Birds and vermin

Once stacked, bales should be protected from birds by applying a woven polypropylene net. Support the net so that it is not in direct contact with the surface of the bales as birds could reach through the net (this can be done by placing tyres on the bales).

Place weather-protected vermin bait stations around the stack’s perimeter, and replenish as necessary. Ensure these are protected from pets and farm animals. Both these measures will help prevent birds or vermin puncturing the wrap.

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Special focus: baled silage

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