If you have ever wondered whether silage wrapping was the way to go or not Western Packaging can give you a few suggestions on the matter. Providing the best and most nutrient-dense food for your animals is the main concern for most people. Saving money is just as important and we can help you do both with a silage wrapper.
What Is The Difference Between Silage and Haylage?
Silage vs haylage has been an ongoing conversation for decades with farmers. Silage is a fermented food, used for sheep, cows, and other cud-chewing animals and comes from grass, maize, cereals, sorghum, and other crops. Silage is sometimes named after the forage it is made from, for example, oat silage is sometimes called oatlage. Initially, the vegetation is stored in a silo in a huge pile, compressed to remove as much oxygen as possible, and then covered with plastic.
It takes ten days to weeks for the fermentation process to complete. Considering a haylage wrapper or a silage wrapper doesn’t have to be complicated because haylage and silage are very similar. The main difference is that haylage is drier than silage. Both haylage and silage need to be stored in plastic bags to keep them from losing dry matter.
How Does Baled Silage Benefit You?
Not everyone needs baled silage but for those thinking about it, there are huge silage benefits. Silage bale wrap can be ideal if you have smaller fields or overflow fields that are not equipped for piles, wrapping your silage allows you flexibility and convenience. If your pastures are full of hills and not easily accessible to silage-making equipment, this method is beneficial.
Almost any forage is good for making silage but be careful with forage that is older or tough as it can poke through the silage wrapper. This creates a way for oxygen to then be allowed in and you will lose dry matter and nutrient-rich silage.
Why Do I Need Silage Wrap
Silage needs to be wrapped when transporting to keep out the air and preserve the silage. One of the most important things when trying to preserve your silage is keeping the oxygen out, this is the primary benefit to wrapping your silage. Silage is better for cows than other types of fodder because it is easier to digest.
Wrapping hay for silage keeps out oxygen, the lack of oxygen breaks down the lactic bacteria, saving the animals digestive system a step. Wrapping your silage will not only help your animals but it will also save you up to a third of your product. That is a huge deal when it comes to your bottom line and makes it the best bale wrapper.
Choosing A Silage Wrap
When shopping around for a silage wrap look for a wrap that will hold up for a complete season, otherwise you will not only spend more money but you will have more waste. You will want to make sure that it adheres to itself well enough to create an airtight seal. Remember, the goal of wrapping your bales is to keep out the oxygen for a premium silage fodder.
A silage wrapper that reflects the heat is necessary so that your bales do not get too hot and lose nutrient value or spoil. Western Packaging carries Sunfilm brand silage wrap and is well-known for its durability and quality. We would be happy to give you more information about the wraps we carry and the machinery necessary to wrap your bales.
Give Us A Call Today
Western Packaging would love to help you choose the silage wrap that works for you. We carry many products to suit your packaging needs, big or small. If you have any questions or would like help choosing products that make your business better give us a call today!