What is Silage Bale Wrap?

MMP Corporation
Jul 21
3 min read

Updated: Jul 29

Silage bale wrap is a plastic wrap that covers baled hay, often seen in hay fields after harvest. To the casual observer, bale wrapping is simply a method of protecting hay bales from the weather. However, wrapping hay bales offers many benefits beyond weather protection.

We’ll explore bale wrapping and explain why the practice has become essential to farm management.

Bale wrapping allows hay to be stored in the field

Types of Bale Wrap

There are three main types of bale wrap: twine wrap, mesh wrap, and silage bale wrap.

Twine Wrap

Twine wrap is the most inexpensive way to preserve the condition of baled hay. It’s commonly used to wrap hay bales that will soon be transported elsewhere on the property to be stored. It consists of several pieces of twine wrapped around the outside of the hay bale and tied. It offers no weather protection and is used as a temporary measure.

Net Wrap

Net wrap is a plastic mesh wrapped around the outside of hay bales. It's an inexpensive way to keep hay bales intact during transportation and storage. The net wrap offers a better solution to keeping the bale's content together than twine wrap, but it offers limited protection against the elements.

Silage Wrap

The term “silage” refers to an anaerobic fermentation process that happens when the hay is completely wrapped. This fermentation process takes around two weeks to complete. Once complete, the hay is referred to as silage to identify the fermentation process that has occurred. The process converts the sugars in the hay into acids and makes the hay more nutritious and easier for livestock to digest.

Bale wrapping allows bales to be efficiently stacked

Other Benefits of Bale Wrapping

Plastic silage wrap covers the hay bale completely and offers great weather protection. It can serve as an alternative storage place in the field. When a hay bale is stored in a field directly after harvest, it becomes a race against time to use or store it properly before weather deterioration and microbial activity render the hay bale spoiled and unusable. Hay bales left uncovered in fields can deteriorate completely in as little as 5-10 days. Bale wrapping eliminates the need to store the hay bale in a barn or hay shed. Properly covered bales can easily last for weeks or months in the field.

Completely wrapped hay bales are also easier to move and transport. The silage bale wrap is a tough, durable plastic that can withstand punctures and tears. It also offers a barrier against insect or rodent infestation.

Step-by-Step Guide to Bale Wrapping for Optimal Preservation

Ensuring your bales are wrapped properly can increase the time your silage remains a viable and nutritious food for livestock.

Wrapping the bales in at least six layers is recommended to ensure they are fully protected against external elements.
Maintain adequate tension on the plastic wrap to reduce the chance of oxygen penetration, which can speed up deterioration.
Avoid wrapping hay bales in high-temperature weather conditions. This can compromise the plastic bale wrap's functionality and effectiveness.
Ensure the hay is as dry as possible before wrapping the bale. Completely dry hay helps preserve the tightness of the wrap and prevent moisture damage.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Be sure to wrap the bales within two hours of baling. This practice captures the hay at its freshest and prevents sudden weather damage.
Keep the size of the wrapped bales consistent. It also provides for easier transportation and stacking and better utilization of indoor storage space.
Always handle wrapped bales with tools that won't puncture the wrap and allow oxygen and moisture to damage the bales.

Select High-quality Silage Wrap Film from MMP Corp

MMP Corporation manufactures high-quality silage wrap film known for its exceptional strength, puncture resistance, and durability.

Our silage wrap film is made from linear low-density polyethylene (PE-LLD). Its rated thickness is 25 μm (micrometers), and a packaged roll is 1,500m in length, 75 cm in width, and weighs 26.86 kg. It can also be manufactured according to the customer’s OEM sizes. Our silage film is white to help shield the hay bale from the sun and regulate the speed of the fermentation process.

The film meets the DLG quality mark test seal standards. This certificate is awarded to agricultural products and equipment that pass a comprehensive quality and usability test. We supply our silage wrap to Australia, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand. Contact us today to learn more about our superior MMP Corporation silage film.

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