Big Bale Covers? recommendations please

Jnhuk

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Had posted this in the feeding section but got no replies so will try here in hope of a better response.

Have seen a variety of different options to cover big round bales of hay once put out in the field to help stop wastage.

Does anyone have any experience and recommendations? How long have they lasted?

Thanks in advance
 
Had posted this in the feeding section but got no replies so will try here in hope of a better response.

Have seen a variety of different options to cover big round bales of hay once put out in the field to help stop wastage.

Does anyone have any experience and recommendations? How long have they lasted?

Thanks in advance

You can save a lot of wastage by sitting them on pallets, old tyres, or anything like that as they tend to soak up moisture from the ground.

You can also tie some plastic over the top 1/3rd of the bale to shed the rain/snow. That will help too. Just tie it down securely to the pallet. Netwrap does shed a lot of the water and you will be surprised how little you'll waste. If you completely wrap the bales in plastic, you'll get condensation on the inside layer (unless you exclude the air) which will cause mould. If they bales are quite dry (i.e. they've been allowed to weather in the field) put them in rows close together, otherwise leave 12" or so gap between them.

Obviously, put your plastic on when the tops of the bales are dry. Builders DPM (damp proof membrane) is ideal. Make sure you tie it down so the wind can't get under it.
 
I used to have a bale tidy which was great until the elastic stretched, the material split and then the mice ate bits of it !!! Great in principle just not great quality materials IMO
 
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