Using of balers for big rectangular bales in feed preservation

The preservation of pressed wilted fodder was evaluated in lucerne (average dry matter content at harvest 44.25 per cent), harvested by means of a Wlger Delta 5000 press. Temperatures and changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide contents were measured in the process of fermentation in a rick of 1.5x1.2x0.4 m bales (total mass 1.9 t), covered with two plies of plastic sheet. The data were measured inside the bales, on their surface and on contact sides of the bales. The temperatures measured in the process of preservation did not exceed 30 degrees C, the CO2 and O2 values indicated that despite all efforts to achieve hermetic environment the air penetrates into the stored material; this was manifested in moulds at some spots of bale surface. Despite this fact, the overall results of feed preservation were good (weight loss 3.56 per cent, dry matter loss 7.64 per cent). CO2 and O2 concentrations were measured in different layers of one bale taken of the rick, and at the same time the qualitative stability of feed made of this bale was evaluated. During the entire time of storage (20 days) the quality was almost unchanged in the bale middle, but moulds were observed in surface layers to the depth of 100 mm. The performed measurements indicated that it was possible to make high-quality feed of preserved forage if the plant material was harvested by a baling press for big rectangular bales. But it is very difficult to achieve air-tight conditions in practical farming conditions (plastic sheet handling and plastic protection from tearing). The presence of moulds on the surface of bales means feed depreciation because the contaminated layer cannot be reliably separated from the good-quality material. The preservation of pressed fodder bales can be a technology complementing the other preservation techniques in those operations where the baling press has been bought for straw harvest, and it can also be applied in smaller operations on the basis of baling press leasing.