What's the future of wrapped bales?

[escapedfromunderthecow]

we make 1500 bales a year, have costed it with quotes from contractor to clamp it and if you have your own baling and wrapping kit, it is still cheaper to do it yourself. Most contractracters put the small guy at the end of the list and doing it yourself means you can make it when its ready and do small areas if the weather is catchy

 

[crashbox]

we make 1500 bales a year, have costed it with quotes from contractor to clamp it and if you have your own baling and wrapping kit, it is still cheaper to do it yourself. Most contractracters put the small guy at the end of the list and doing it yourself means you can make it when its ready and do small areas if the weather is catchy

If you have the right business model and team, it works. Or you do it yourself and look after the kit.

Most dairy farms have moved towards a model of less staff, who are busier all the time with day to day jobs.

Leaves little slack in the team to spend 2 to 3 days mowing, tedding, raking, baling, carting and dealing with the inevitable breakdowns on older kit.

If the contractor has a breakdown, kit's on warranty, phone call and new machine if can't be fixed.

 

[box]

Could you not just plan/attempt to make hay, and if the weather turns to custard just wrap it and call it haylage? If the weather plays ball, make hay. Win/win.

 

[som farmer]

Could you not just plan/attempt to make hay, and if the weather turns to custard just wrap it and call it haylage? If the weather plays ball, make hay. Win/win.

what a sensible idea, and exactly what happens, as you say, win win.

 

[crashbox]

what a sensible idea, and exactly what happens, as you say, win win.

But the feed value

 

[steveR]

what a sensible idea, and exactly what happens, as you say, win win.

Until the contractor gives you the big intake of breath, "well..... if you had called me before, I could have fit you in, but with the rain forecast, I am flat out for 2 days with those who pre-booked"

 

[som farmer]

But the feed value

our cows had hay included in tmr, at 40%, and adlib all summer, for 2.5 yrs, redefined my view of hay, they milked well on it, and constituents were high, decent hay though.

 

[som farmer]

Until the contractor gives you the big intake of breath, "well..... if you had called me before, I could have fit you in, but with the rain forecast, I am flat out for 2 days with those who pre-booked"

secret is, to get on well with your contractor, and let him know he 'might' be needed.

 

[steveR]

secret is, to get on well with your contractor, and let him know he 'might' be needed.

Indeed....

 

[Ben B]

wrapped silage, took all the risk out of haymaking, if the weather was changeable, in fact it soon took over from haymaking. Having been buying fodder to feed our dairy, through 3 years, of little grass growth, the easiest 'thing' to buy/transport was hay. The bigger surprise, was how the cows performed off it, no milk loss, but much higher fat and protein, we have continued to feed some hay, but no longer, as 40% of the ration.
We all hated the weather haymaking, and l think we were pleased to have an alternative, and quick to change. Perhaps a bit to quick.

Good hay is as good as good silage. It's only that good silage is more achievable in most climates.