中文
When making baled silage, it is important to note what specifications of silage bale wrap (film) you are getting.
While ‘standard’ 750mm x 1,500m rolls are by far the most commonly used, there are alternatives. However, are these alternatives worth looking into?
None of the co-ops we contacted produce own-brand silage bale wrap (film) of specifications other than ‘standard’ – Feng-Flex has produced longer rolls in recent times. Size of 750mm x 1,950m with the thickness of the plastic – at 20μm – is thinner than the 25μm seen on ‘standard’ film.
You can get away with applying four layers using 25μm plastic but you can’t using the thinner film, so it has never taken off.
Maurice Keady of Silawrap said: “The rolls are longer but thinner and the thinner material doesn’t really work in Irish conditions. In Ireland, you need a stronger film because of the rain and wind. Silawrap stopped selling the longer version a couple of years ago here.
In Sweden, farmers use the longer rolls but they put on eight or even 10 layers on bales there. In Ireland, some lads put on four layers, which with 22μm film isn’t good enough.
Keady added that he is aware of some places in Ireland that do sell it, but it is specified on the box that at least six layers of cover are needed using such film, which is something that not everyone sees prior to wrapping.
This highlights the need to ensure you know the specifications of the silage wrap being used, and how much of it is needed per bale.
