When netwrap first came on the scene, there were those who said: “It will never catch on – netwrap will never replace twine”.

 As they say: “Never say never” - 30 years on, netwrap is used extensively to bind silage bales.  However, it appears that a similar baling evolution is currently underway wherein a new binding method has now begun to replace netwrap.

Over the last 5 years the use a wide polythene film to bind bales before wrapping, has grown significantly. 

The manufacturers of Baletite, one such film, estimates over 1.2million bales were wrapped with Baletite in Ireland during 2016 alone. 

While some have questioned whether film could replace netwrap it would appear that the Film & Film system (the combined use of a binding and a wrapping film) has the confidence of several machinery manufacturers. 

At least 10 different combi-wrappers capable of applying film instead of net, have been launched over the last 5 years and a number of other manufacturers are currently working on Film & Film models.

There are now an estimated 4000+ Film & Film balewrappers worldwide from Western Europe to the Americas and Asia Pacific so the system has definitely gathered momentum. 

Farmers and contractors in these varying geographic locations have realised the many benefits of the film binding system that includes a significantly better oxygen barrier, easy film removal, easier recycling, less waste and importantly, enhanced silage quality.

Critics of the new Film & Film system highlight the price difference between Baletite and netwrap citing an additional cost of circa €0.62 per bale for film binding.

This argument is reminiscent of the case put forward for twine 30 years ago when comparable costs were cited as 11p per bale for twine and 30p per bale for netwrap.

The price differential that existed then did not stop progress as farmers and contractors could see beyond the cost to the added value offered.

Similarly, those who have adopted Film & Film wrapping are realizing the benefits.

Aside from the time savings available when opening/feeding bales and subsequently recycling the film, many users have noticed a significant reduction in mould and wasted silage.

Excellent trial results have been obtained in Britain by Dr. Dave Davies of Silage Solutions Ltd, who acts as an independent consultant to the Silage Advisory Centres.

Dr. Davies is a well-known forage expert and is a former Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Grassland & Environmental Research (IGER) at Aberystwyth in Wales.

On a  trial he conducted on a commercial farm in England under real working farm conditions Dr Davies demonstrated that Film & Film wrapped bales had:

-          7.5% less dry matter (DM) losses on Film & Film bales compared to netwrap bales due to an enhanced fermentation process.

-          80% less DM losses on Film & Film bales compared to netwrap bales due to mould formation on the bale.

-          an overall 52% reduction on Film & Film bales compared to netwrap bales in DM losses.

The reduced losses that resulted through the use of the F&F wrapping system meant that the farmer on this farm gained more forage to feed to his herd. 

For a dairy farmer, preserving forage more successfully could provide a significant financial benefit as follows:

• This farmer gained an average of 7.35kg DM per bale using the Film & Film wrapping system.


• As 1kg of DM = 11.8 MJ ME (Metabolisable Energy), this means that the farmer gained 86.73 MJ ME per Film & Film bale (7.35 kg DM x 11.8 MJ ME). 


• In order to produce 1 litre of milk you need: ± 5.8MJ/litre MJ ME. 


• Therefore the 86.73MJ ME averagely gained for each of these bales could give an additional 15 litres of milk production (86.73 / 5.8 = 15 litres). 

It is important to note that the above trial was undertaken under commercial farm conditions and not on a research institution farm where bales are carefully handling and stored in perfect conditions by trained research staff. 

 

Film & Film bales benefit from the greater protection the extra film layers provide around the bale circumference enabling them to better withstand the rigours of the handling and storage processes. 

 

Had this been a netwrap bale this sizeable hole would have allowed significant air ingress before it was discovered.

 

Baletite creates a denser, more compact bale due to the stiffer nature of this netwrap replacement film.  Whereas netwrap will continue to elongate post baling (because of its netting structure) the stiffer configuration of Baletite maintains the pressure that has been applied to the bale within the baling chamber.

 

This greater crop compaction enables more efficient forage storage.

 

Trials undertaken by ILVO (Instituut voor Landbouw – en Visserijonderzoek / Institute for Research in Agriculture and Fisheries) in Belgium have found that Film & Film System bales were on average 2cm smaller in circumference than traditionally netwrapped bales in addition to being 10% denser.

 

Film & Film wrapping can also enable the automation of the feeding process.

If using a bale handler and mixer wagon, it is possible to feed out Film & Film bales with minimum human intervention. 

 

Once opened whether by hand or by bale handler, Baletite peels cleanly from the bale as no fodder can become enmeshed in it as with netwrap. 

 

Film & Film wrapping provides further benefits in terms of recycling and labour efficiencies as it eliminates the need to spend time separating and segregating netwrap from film for recycling after use.

Polythene films are also easier to recycle in terms of processability and cleanliness.

 

Bale wrapping, like other technologies, is evolving.

 

As netwrap was a step-change in wrapping practices 30 years ago, binding films like Baletite are paving the way to a new era of added value and cost benefits.

 

 For further information or technical advice on forage conservation and product prices for 2017 please contact Sean O Connor, General Manager Ireland Tel: + 353 (0)87.2540518 or email S.O'connor@rpc-bpi.com