Wrapping hay

We really would have preferred making dry hay so that we didn't need to wrap it, but it is late in the year to make hay so that was not possible. We just could not get it dry enough.
Hay will mould if it is baled when the moisture level is too high so you can wrap it and it will ferment rather than go mouldy.
Wrapping hay is more expensive, but it does increase the protein level of the hay and we do not need to worry about covering it with a tarp to store it outside.
So, there are plus and minuses both ways.

[Serene Barb]

Neat shot! I've never seen square bales being wrapped before. Well, not this close up, anyway.

[Tessa]

Very interesting. So different to here.

[Kathy]

That's interesting about the fermentation rather than mould. I didn't know that. I haven't seen the wrapping as work in progress either. Thanks.

[Pat Knowles]

White bale wrap...ours is usually black!!! Hope it's good stuff!

[Wendy]

@happypat All bale wrap here is white - I have never seen the black stuff. The big round bales look just like giant marshmellows in the field when they are wrapped.
So neat to see the differences - and the similarities - in our two countries!

[Anne ❀]

yes, very interesting to hear about the differences from around the world. i've never seen black either. interesting pic and info. thanks for sharing.

[Pat Knowles]

@farmreporter @sunnygreenwood I will take a picture of black ones if I see them but I think a bit late for this year!!

[KAL]

So is fermenting really good for the sheep? How do you unwrap the bale when feeding?

[Wendy]

@kathyladley Wrapped hay is good for sheep, although you do have to be careful if there is mold in it. Sheep are prone to listerosis, an infection that affects their brain and can kill them if not caught in time. Moldy hay can give them it.
The learning curve is steep with sheep - we are learning all the time!