Storing Hay

6 posts
Fri, 11/08/2013 - 10:37 #1

Member for

11 years 6 months
cksutton
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 04/28/2013 - 18:39

Storing Hay

Hi everyone. Just after a bit of advice. We have recently slashed and baled about 4 acres that hasgiven us just under 500 bales (small squares). As we are not living on the property yet we have no storage for the hay. We have stacked and tarped one stack and shrink wrapped the other stacks but we have received conflicting advice on what is the best way. Some have told us that shrink wrap protects from the elements therefore reducing mould but others have said it encourages it due to sweating as it can't 'breathe'. Any advice?Thanks in advance
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Mon, 11/11/2013 - 18:23 #2
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi, I would be cautious shrink wrapping the whole stack of hay. A few years ago we wrapped a whole stack of large bales in silage plastic, only to find a week later that mould had started to grow everywhere. We ended up covering the stacks and leaving the bottom row of bales uncovered, this allowed it to breath and the stacks are still fine today. You can purchase used cotton module covers which work really well as they have eye holes for ropes to secure the cover to the ground.

Another suggestion is to sit the bottom bales on plastic as you get a lot of wastage with those bales coming into direct contact with the ground. Over time they break down and the stack becomes distorted and can fall over. Cut the plastic with at least half a metre to spare all around and then fold it up and attach it to the bales (we used baling clips) so water does not lie on it.

Also, if you are going to use anything to weigh plastic down around hay bales, use lime as it will reply the moisture.

Charlie

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Sat, 11/09/2013 - 10:59 #3
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

Can't tell you either way as we just shove ours into the hayshed. After saying that, if I were in your situation I would probably stack it and put some iron on top with LOTS of weights as the potential to sweat would worry me.

Hopefully you get a more informed answer soon.

Cheers
Rob.

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Sat, 11/09/2013 - 12:34 #4
cksutton
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 04/28/2013 - 18:39
Thanks Rob. We too are concerned about the sweating but we are expecting about 50mm+ of rain over the next week so we figure we will get through the rain then remove some of the wrap until we can get a more definitive answer. A hay shed is on the agenda but it wont be up before the rain hence the wrapping. Thanks again.
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Tue, 11/12/2013 - 20:33 #5
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38
Hi CK,I would agree that mould would be a serious problem with shrink wrapping bales. Doing so would give a chance for some very toxic mould such as aflatoxin to breed in them. The mould toxins can cause fatal liver and kidney damage to livestock when fed out. The moulds breed like crazy in the bales  due to the moisture and warmth trapped in the bales by the shrink wrapping. I agree with Charlie, using the big tarps for cotton would be a great idea. When we had hay bales stored on plastic (VisQueen) years ago, we put flitches (off cuts from sleeper cutting) on top of the plastic on the ground and then stacked the hay bales on top of them. The reason for that was because we discovered that the bales on the bottom that were in direct contact with the plastic became mouldy and were fit only for mulch. Now thank Heavens, I have the luxury of a hay shed and so don't have the problem anymore. I hope this has helped.Cheers,Barb
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Mon, 11/18/2013 - 20:54 #6
cksutton
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 04/28/2013 - 18:39
Thank you everyone for your support and advice. My husband and I were quite worried about the sweating but given the rain we were also facing we had to decide which was the lesser of the 2 evils! We took the lower half of the silotite off after the rain and thankfully though it had been just over a week no mould. We are hoping to build a hay shed but it won't be for a few months yet. I have so much to learn but am grateful for your advice. I have been doing some reading on silage fermentation so I am hoping the next season we will be a bit more prepared, though as I said the shed will probably be up by then. Thanks again 
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