Why Bale Silage

A modern practice

Baled silage is a relatively recent farming practice, first used in Australia and New Zealand in the 1970s, and only became possible following the development of suitable plastic films by the petrochemical industry.

Initially the silage was packed into bags. Air was excluded and the bags tied off usually by muscle power alone. Modern practice involves consolidation of the harvested crop using a baler. The bale is then wrapped with four or six layers of specially developed and manufactured plastic film.

Innovation and technology advances are providing new options and opportunities for change. Current developments in silage films and the farm machinery used for harvesting, baling and wrapping forage crops are extending the options and opportunities offered by baled silage..

Why farmers choose bale silage

Today, farmers choose bale silage for a number of reasons:

  • High quality fodder, the quality of bale silage is at least the same as clamp, usually better
  • Easy handling and feeding systems (different silage qualities can be fed when needed)
  • Ideal for conservation of surplus grass and grass harvested in autumn
  • Limited capital investment, low transport cost field — storage area
  • Bales can be conveniently used as feed during brief periods of grass scarcity, e.g. drought or wet weather
  • There is no effluent wastage, if bales are properly wrapped
  • Low dependence on whether, flexible workflow
  • Allows additional silage to be made without opening the clamp
  • Any bale surplus can be sold
  • Little losses during production and storage