Small bale silage?

[Benn]

morning all

We currently make hay with small conventional baler.
I'm was going be using hay to feed sheep that's fine this year but next year dad want to sell all the hay so I thought about getting cut of silage after hay been made.
We only have small baler somebody said used to make small silage and used to bag back in 60-70s each individual bale by hand?
I know a lot of work but I can't find anything on small bale wrappers and to be honest unless could get second hand cheap one wouldn't be an option as first couple years only be baling 5 acres.also I would think it would be hard to get contractor to come over for 5 acres.
Anybody tried this?
Cheers
Benn

 

[Bootneck]

Seen photos of my dad making small bale silage, put in big black bags by hand. So it is possible, not sure how good it was.

 

[Gilchro]

McHale used to make a s small square bale wrapper

 

[opininionated]

Unless the grass is pretty close to being hay, I think the baler will struggle.

 

[D C]

I would think a contractor would come for 5 acre, around here they wouldnt come for more than 5 acre as its hard graft lifting them on and off. Fairly dear as well

 

[opininionated]

Why don't you buy the hay off your dad? He has all the risk of making it, if it gets rained on you say you don't want it and buy some quality stuff from someone else.

 

[Benn]

Yeah I did think baler might struggle abit maybe haylage?
Dad sells the hay for £3.50 a bale to horsey type,thinking if I could make my own for just cost labour which we have about 6 people come help out for just price of a beer and some bags probally cheaper?dont know though as say baler might not cope.
How much do contractors charge for making silage?dad used have contractors do the wrapping and he. Would bale but that was big bales over 15 years ago.

 

[Longlowdog]

I have a Wolagri small round baler and wrapper. It makes very dense silage no problem. However 5 acres would be HELL unless you had lots of folk available. The bales are probably 40 kgs or more and there are many bales to an acre. Pests that pierce small bales ruin them. A small hole very soon spoils a wee bale.

 

[Benn]

Ah right there 6 of us and one youngen who give hand when hay making and so be few of us.

Has anybody used small square baler on silage or haylage?

 

[davidroberts30]

Cant you get 2 cuts of hay
?I make small haylage,you be looking at about £1.60 to wrap them inc plastic

A small baler will bale quite green fresh grass given time and set according trouble is moving them after they will be 50kgs+! Haylage usually weighs 28-30kgs a bale

 

[Benn]

It's the weather and storing the hay make now struggle to store it in the dry.

Look like I probally just have to buy in silage.
cheers for answers