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When deciding on a method of handling wrapped silage there are three important things to keep in mind – avoiding damage to the bale, getting the job done quickly and ease of use.
While traditionally single or dual hydraulic bale lifters have been used, there is now a range of other options that have come on stream in recent years.
Keltec Engineering
Keltec Engineering in Limerick manufacture a bale transporter in an eight- or 10-pack size. Easy to load, as it only requires one man.
The 10-pack can transport 72 bales in an hour over a 1km trip.
When compared with loading a trailer which requires a loader in the field and in the yard, the Keltec is far less labour-intensive. It avoids any damage to bales, reduces soil compaction and is an easy and safe way to handle wrapped silage.
Cashels Engineering
Cashels has designed two double bale handlers to overcome the problem many double handlers currently on the market have – how to avoid damage to the second bale after the first one is picked up.
Cashels allow a bale to be picked up anywhere in the field and then comfortably pick up the second one without the first even touching the ground.
The Pick and Stack has been developed to cater for the transport and stacking of two bales.
While protecting bale integrity and minimising transport time, it crucially allows bales to be stacked two high at the storage destination.
The Hydraulic Vari-Width double bale handler allows for the two bales to be quickly collected from the field without any risk of damage to the wrap.
JM Agri-Design
JM Agri design has come up with an innovative way of loading and unloading bales. By using a single over-arm design, the operator can grip a bale at any angle.
The JM TR-3 is capable of gripping a single bale, while the JM TR-8 can handle two bales at once. The ability to handle a bale on both the flat and round edges makes the JM trunk handler extremely operator-friendly when working in confined spaces and difficult conditions.
The JM bale handlers can also handle stacked settled bales for resale without compromising the plastic.
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