According to Teagasc, baled silage is now made on over two-thirds of all farms in Ireland and accounts for one-third of all silage made in the country.

Baled silage is commonly used as a second silage-making system when harvesting second-cut grass after the silage pits are full from the first cut; it also acts as a simple means of extra fodder storage.

Storage

Where space permits, best practice is to store all round silage bales one high on their flat ends. However, this may not be practical in most cases. When round bales must be stacked outdoors, the safest method is to stack them on their curved sides in a pyramid shape.

The bales on the outside of the bottom row should be supported by chocks or other supports in order to stop them from moving. The maximum height of the stack should be no more than three bales high. Where the bales are not very dense or soft, a maximum height of two bales is advised.

Stacking of round bales on their ends is not recommended as bales can have a tendency to shift due to the variable density of the material in the bale. Storage of round bales on their ends or sides in a single layer on the ground can be permitted provided that the ground is level.

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 surface or well-drained area on which to store the bales. Soft or uneven ground can increase the risk of machinery incidents when stacking or removing the bales during the winter feeding.

All bale stacks should be positioned well away from overhead power lines as bales can act as a play platform for children who may climb on to them and become dangerously close to live power cables.

Children should not be allowed to play with or on top of bales. All ladders or other means to enable access to the bales should be removed. Children should not be allowed in the farmyard or fields where bales are being moved, handled or transported.

When working with bales, a tractor or other machinery used to lift the bales can easily come into contact with overhead wires. In the event of a tractor coming in contact with the overhead wires, the metal parts of the tractor become live and this could cause serious injury or fatality. If your tractor contacts the overhead electricity wires, reverse the tractor out of contact with the wires if possible. If not, stay in the cab and phone ESB Networks emergency number 1850-372 999.

If you must leave the cab, for example if the tyres go on fire, jump clear of the tractor and do not hold on to metal parts while stepping down because this provides a path for the electricity to flow through you into the ground.

Transportation

Use bale-handling equipment, tractors, telehandlers and trailers that are well designed, safe and well maintained in order to complete the work safely. Drivers must ensure that their view is not obscured if using bale spikes. Two or more spikes are recommended to prevent rotation or loosening of the bale during transport. When travelling on the public road, bale spikes should be removed, covered or folded back when travelling empty so as not to pose a risk to road users. If you need to dismount from the tractor or loader which is transporting bales to carry out another task, ensure the handbrake is securely applied, switch off the engine and remove the key.

When moving bales, keep the bale as low as possible, avoid sudden movements and travel slowly to suit the terrain. Front or rear weights may be needed to counterbalance the load and give good control of the steering on the machine. It is essential that all tractors and front end loaders used to move bales are fitted with approved cabs to provide falling objects protection (FOPS) and rollover protection (ROPS).

Trailers and trucks used to transport bales must not be overloaded. Bales should be securely loaded and not overhang the edges of the trailer. When finished, the load must be secured in place with suitable straps, with double straps used at the rear of the load.

On the road, avoid high speeds and take account of the effects the weight of the load has on the effectiveness of the braking and steering and drive accordingly.