Net, Plastic, and Twine-wrapped Large Round Bale Storage Loss

Dry matter loss and quality changes were measured in large round alfalfa hay bales formed in a fixed chamber baler and stored six to nine months in East Lansing, Michigan. Four storage methods were compared: twine-wrapped bales stored in a shed on wooden pallets and twine, plastic, and net-wrapped bales stored outside on pallets. When removed from storage, twine and net-wrapped bales stored outside contained more moisture throughout than bales from the other two storage methods (p < 0.05). Dry matter loss averaged 6.0% in twine-wrapped bales stored inside and 9.6, 16.3, and 16.5% in plastic, net and twine-wrapped bales stored outside, respectively. Increases in neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen concentrations were higher in the outer [10 cm (4 in.)] layer in net and twine-wrapped bales stored outside than in bales stored inside or wrapped in plastic (p < 0.05). Crude protein concentrations in the outer layer and all forage quality measures from the center of bales were similar across storage methods.