Dairy and cattle farmers have shown a growing interest in wrapping hay as a solution for making high-quality baleage in tight weather windows.
“Inline bale wrappers give producers the ability to preserve and protect forages, by keeping them out of the weather, without having to invest in costly fixed assets such as buildings and bunkers,” said Derek Quies, product manager at KUHN North America.
Whether wrapping for silage or to protect forage from adverse conditions, new OptiWrap® Inline Bale Wrappers from KUHN put 35-plus years of experience, innovation and technology to use for a dual purpose: optimizing productivity while protecting the bottom line.
Producers and custom operators can choose from the OWR 6000 (for round bales of various sizes, including 4- and 5-foot-wide bales up to 6 feet in diameter) or the OWS 6500 (for 3-foot-by-3-foot and 3-foot-by-4-foot large square bales, up to 6 feet in length, and 4- and 5-foot round bales up to 6 feet in diameter). Both options boast quick wrapping while minimizing film and fuel use.
“Wrapping forages and baleage gives producers the opportunity to manage the feed and preserve its nutritional value,” said Quies of a fermentation process that ultimately occurs within each bale. Wrapping creates an anaerobic environment that increases acidity, necessary to produce quality feed and prevent spoilage — both during storage and when re-exposed to air at feeding.
Another benefit of inline bale wrapping? “Operators can build the animals’ rations — by taking different feed from different lines — based on what they need for optimal nutrition while reducing spoilage in the process,” said Quies.
The OptiWrap® Inline Bale Wrappers from KUHN offer a trio of unique features.
IntelliWrap™ technology provides unparalleled management and control over the wrapping process via a simple touchscreen display. The VT-30 terminal allows operators to keep track of the tangibles, including target number of wraps, and easily adjust coverage in one-layer increments.
FilmSense detects when a film roll runs out or accidentally breaks during the wrapping process and adjusts to ensure the target number of layers is achieved. This is integral to how long forages will remain preserved without spoilage.
Dual driven hoop wheels — which are non-pneumatic and will never go flat — provide optimal traction and excellent drive in adverse conditions by wicking away debris and moisture.
Both KUHN inline bale wrappers feature an industry-leading 70% plastic stretch ratio, which delivers superior bale compression, uses the least amount of plastic possible and cuts costs.
“If we can increase the stretch by 15%, then a producer saves 15% in the end because they didn’t have to buy another roll of film,” said Quies.
From beginners to experienced operators, “these machines know how to be efficient — no matter who is running the wrapper.”
Looking to create an airtight seal on your animals’ rations? Watch the video here to learn more about the industry-leading OptiWrap® Inline Bale Wrappers from KUHN or visit your local KUHN dealer and speak with a product specialist.
