Many producers use net wrap on round bales because it increases baling efficiency and facilitates water-shedding capabilities, leading to less spoilage and outdoor storage losses. Unfortunately, however, its plastic material can present health and safety hazards for cattle.
Studies conducted by North Dakota State University show that ingesting net wrap can clog the rumen, leading to blockages and impaction. Producers who remove it from bale feeders or collect it after eating could avoid these issues by picking it up after each bale is devoured.
Costs
If you’re in the market for some net wrap, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before purchasing some. First and foremost, be aware that it can be expensive per ton; however, local agriculture associations offer discounted costs of purchasing net wrap.
Netwrap is an effective means of minimising material loss during handling, storage and transport. A study by ASABE indicated that netwrap could cut dry matter losses up to 66% lower than twine.
Health Issues
Net wrap can lead to rumen inflammation and other health complications in cattle, costing ranchers both in terms of vet bills and feed costs. Taylor Grussing from SDSU Cow/Calf Field Specialist notes that many producers, for time or labour reasons, choose not to remove net wrap before feeding their bales of feed.
He advises producers who have not removed twine from their bales to consider it a potential cause for digestive issues such as bloat or impactions.
Bales bound in net wrap are more effective at shedding water during storage, helping reduce outdoor storage losses or waste feed. Grussing emphasises that choosing an ideal binding option should depend on where forage will be stored – for instance, a study at North Dakota State University conducted in 2014 evaluated the digestibility of several types of crucial materials and discovered that none of the net wrap or biodegradable twine samples degraded within 14 days in cannulated steer rumen.
Environmental Issues
The net wrap has revolutionised hayfield farming. Producing tight, uniform bales that are easier for ranchers and transporters to manage is just one benefit of using net wrap; long-term moisture retention increases nutrition value while decreasing storage losses.
A plastic net wrap can accumulate in a cow’s rumen and lead to serious health issues, known as plastic disease, affecting its digestive system and overall well-being.
Grussing states that many producers do not take the time to get on their tractors to cut and remove twine/net wrap before feeding, even though this could pose serious health concerns with their herd if left intact and consumed by cows.
Safety
Net wrap ingested while chewing hay or running it through a tub grinder may lead to free gas bloat and death in certain instances, according to herd veterinarians. Furthermore, plastic consumption could affect her health and production efficiency negatively.
Regular equipment maintenance and monitoring of baling conditions are vital components to any successful netwrap operation. Cleaning snagging points such as the ejection ramp, net feed tray, and belts is critical in helping prevent netwrap wrapper issues.
A quick look around the hayfields will tell you that net wrap is now the norm for wrapping round bales. Compared to twine, nets offer faster wrapping, less tangling and quicker transportation of large bales. But, as with most things, there are pros and cons to using the new technology. In this case, the con is a potential health issue for cattle.
Bales wrapped with net wrap tend to have a more uniform appearance than those with twine and shed water better during storage, which helps reduce feed loss. However, if ranchers do not remove the net wrap before feeding, cows can chew it and end up with a mass of plastic in their rumens that they cannot break down or pass through to the small intestine. It can create a number of health problems, including severe and life-threatening bloat.