Question on wrapping bales

[Anonymous-0]

So I am looking into wrapping 4 by 5 round bales for baleage, I was wondering how many bales will one roll of wrap wrap? That is with an individual bale wrapper, I have a three point wrapper that I wrap dry hay with, and it cost around 80 cents per bale but that is a thin coat. So that would be good to know and much appreciated! As far as cost I buy 30 inch wide for $70 per roll. Any advice is much appreciated too! Thanks Tom

 

[JD Seller]

The guys around here do not wrap a 4x5 bale. When they are wet a 4x5 bale could weight 3000 lbs. usually wrap 4x4 bale. The plastic cost is usually around $7-9 per bale. It depends on how wet and how coarse the hay is. The more stems the more wraps to stop air holes.

 

[Bruce from Can.]

I wrap bales 4x4 only. We put on 2 coats of plastic per bale, and get around 30 bales per roll.Wife and I did358 bales back in June, and I wrapped 42 bales today. Bruce

 

[JD Seller]

Bruce the wet hay guys around here put 6-8 layers on the hay they wrap. They claim that you need to block out the sunlight to keep really good hay ledge.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I've wrapped a few 4x5 bales, too heavy and awkward to handle, like JD said. I wrap 4x4 bales 2 full revolutions at 50% overlap for 4 layers of wrap. Pre stretcher is 55%. I get 25 to 28 bales to a roll of 30 inch wrap. I'm in central New York state. Warmer areas may need 6 layers of wrap and some wrappers use 70% pre stretch. So like they say, "Your mileage may vary"

 

[Massey farmer]

We put 24 wraps which is 3 full coverings on 4x4 bales. We have been getting around 23 bales per roll of the taller wrap at $75 per roll. It figures to a little over $3 per bale and I agree with jdseller, 4x5 has got to be really heavy with much moisture in it. Good luck.

 

[randallinMo]

I wrap 5ft. wide by 52 inches tall silage bales. Any taller than that and the weight becomes a "real" issue fast. I get 15 bales per roll of 30" film. I go with the 5' wide bales because there aren't many 4' balers around here. I know of one guy who has a 4x5 baler. He makes his silage bales full size. THey will weigh around 1800-2200 pounds. FAR too heavy for me to safely handle. 'Totally depends upon the moisture content of the forage.

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 19:37:29 08/27/13) The guys around here do not wrap a 4x5 bale. When they are wet a 4x5 bale could weight 3000 lbs.

JD Seller
I'm just curious as I don't bale haylage/baleage. How can a normal 4X5 bale @ 15% moisture if baled at 65-70% moisture weight even close to 3000#s? That's only around a 50% moisture increase. The way I look at the normal 4X5 bale would have to weigh close to 2000#s
Thanks,Jim