We do only large round bales wrapped in plastic - haylage in fact. We switched from small square dry for a number of reasons:
1. The square baler broke.
2. There is only me and my husband and a dearth of willing helpers to pick the darn small bales up.
3. The haylage comes up at about 19% protein, the cows keep their weight all winter with only the need for grain to keep them friendly.
4. We can cut in the morning, let the hay wilt and bale the same day. Wrap at night and we are done. That way the whole process fits with our full time work schedule without taking too much time off for haying.
5. Where we live in New Hampshire the weather is too unpredictable to rely on 3 good drying days for square bales.
6. We can store the bales outside because they are wrapped and they keep all year.
7. The cows (and goats) love it.
Not to say that having a few square bales around wouldn't be handy for the odd occasion. Not so handy that I feel like springing for another square baler, however.
Nic
1. The square baler broke.
2. There is only me and my husband and a dearth of willing helpers to pick the darn small bales up.
3. The haylage comes up at about 19% protein, the cows keep their weight all winter with only the need for grain to keep them friendly.
4. We can cut in the morning, let the hay wilt and bale the same day. Wrap at night and we are done. That way the whole process fits with our full time work schedule without taking too much time off for haying.
5. Where we live in New Hampshire the weather is too unpredictable to rely on 3 good drying days for square bales.
6. We can store the bales outside because they are wrapped and they keep all year.
7. The cows (and goats) love it.
Not to say that having a few square bales around wouldn't be handy for the odd occasion. Not so handy that I feel like springing for another square baler, however.
Nic
