Dry hay costs less to make and store when the weather lets you dry it to 15 to 18% moisture for round bales. Baleage, baled at 40 to 60% moisture and wrapped the same day, needs a quarter to half the drying time of hay, so it suits a short haying window, at the cost of a wrapper and plastic. Avoid the range in between: hay baled at 20 to 30% moisture needs a chemical treatment to keep, and bales wrapped under 40% ferment less and spoil more easily.
Forage quality and preservation are key factors in any livestock feeding program, and choosing the right baling method can significantly impact nutritional value, storage efficiency, and overall cost. Producers have three primary options:
- Baling dry hay (15 to 20% moisture, depending on bale size)
- Wrapping bales at 20 to 40% moisture, too wet to keep as hay and too dry to ensile well
- Wrapping baleage (40 to 60% moisture) that will ensile
Each method has its advantages and drawbacks, and the best choice depends on factors like climate, storage capabilities, and feeding strategy.
1. Dry Hay (15 to 20% Moisture)
The Alberta Forage Manual puts larger, denser bales, such as round bales, at 15 to 18% moisture and small square bales at 18 to 20%. Bales keep drying in storage, to 10 to 15%.
Pros of Baling Dry Hay
- No Plastic Waste – Eliminates the need for wrapping and disposal of plastic.
- Lower Equipment Costs – No bale wrapper or plastic to buy.
- Lighter Bales – A dry bale weighs far less than a baleage bale of the same size, so it's easier to handle and haul.
- Longer Storage – Hay keeps longer than baleage, whose storage life is shorter.
- No Fermentation Risks – No worries about spoilage due to improper fermentation.
Cons of Baling Dry Hay
- Needs More Drying Weather – Hay needs two to four times the drying time of baleage, which can be difficult in short weather windows.
- Risk of Leaf Loss – Alfalfa and clover are prone to shattering when over-dried, reducing protein content. In legumes, the leaves hold about 70% of the plant's protein.
- Higher Risk of Spoilage in Poor Conditions – If not fully cured, dry hay can mould or spontaneously combust in storage.
2. Wrapping Bales at 20 to 40% Moisture
This method involves wrapping hay that retains too much moisture to store safely as dry hay, but not enough to ensile properly. The Alberta Forage Manual says forage baled at 20 to 30% moisture needs a chemical treatment to keep, and a bale wrapped under 40% moisture is less firm and dense and ferments less, increasing the potential for spoilage. Bale either dry enough for hay or wet enough for baleage.
Rained-on swaths make poor baleage too: rain leaches out the sugars fermentation needs, so the bales ensile poorly, heat and mould.
3. Baleage (Wrapped at 40 to 60% Moisture, Will Ensile)
When baled at 40 to 60% moisture (50% is ideal) and wrapped the same day, bales ferment into silage, with less leaf loss than hay.
The Alberta Forage Manual calls for at least four wraps of 1 mil plastic film at 50% stretch, and six is better. Vermeer rates the BW600 inline bale wrapper we sell at 120 bales an hour, and you set the number of wraps on each bale with its digital counter.
Pros of Baleage
- Faster Harvesting – Baleage needs a quarter to half the drying time of hay, so weather is less of a concern.
- Better Leaf Retention – Baleage loses 5 to 10% less leaf than hay, so less quality is lost.
- Less Field Loss – More hay is harvested with less dry matter loss than dry hay.
- Same Equipment – Baleage is made with the same equipment as dry hay, plus a wrapper.
Cons of Baleage
- Requires Plastic Wrapping – Adds costs and disposal challenges.
- Needs Proper Wrapping – If bales aren't baled and wrapped properly, quality losses in storage can be very high.
- Shorter Storage Life – Baleage keeps for less time than hay, and it is higher-risk storage.
- Must Be Fed Once Opened – Once the plastic is off, the bale must be used.
- Heavier Bales – A 5 ft (1.5 m) bale that weighs 1,000 lb (450 kg) at 20% moisture weighs 1,700 lb (770 kg) at 55%, so the Alberta Forage Manual suggests smaller bales for baleage.
- Freezing – Bales with high moisture may freeze.
Which Method Is Best for You?
The best baling method depends on your operation’s needs, weather conditions, and feeding system. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Factor | Dry Hay | Baleage |
|---|---|---|
| Baling moisture | 15 to 20%, by bale size | 40 to 60%, 50% ideal |
| Drying time | Longest | A quarter to half of hay's |
| Weather risk | Higher | Lower |
| Leaf loss | Higher | 5 to 10% lower |
| Storage | Longer storage life | Shorter storage life, higher risk |
| Plastic | None | At least four wraps, six better |
| Equipment | Baler | The same baler, plus a wrapper |
| Bale weight | Lighter | Much heavier at the same size |
For producers in the Peace Region, where weather can be unpredictable, baleage offers a reliable option for reducing drying risk and preserving more of the forage's quality. However, if long-term storage and lower costs are the priority, dry hay remains the best choice.
Common Questions
What moisture should baleage be?
40 to 60%, with 50% ideal. Wrap the bales the same day you bale them.
Can I wrap hay that's too wet to bale dry?
Not well below 40% moisture: those bales ferment less and spoil more easily. Hay baled at 20 to 30% needs a chemical treatment to keep.
Can I recycle bale wrap and twine?
Plastic baler twine, yes, at collection sites in the Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It! pilot program, which Cleanfarms runs. As of November 2026, Cleanfarms says bale wrap collections are beginning in select municipalities, and not every site takes every material, so check with yours. Net wrap isn't accepted.
Talk to GPK
See the Vermeer BW600 inline bale wrapper and the Kubota and Vermeer forage equipment we sell.
Sources: Alberta Agriculture's Alberta Forage Manual (2nd edition, 2009); Vermeer's BW600 page (vermeer.com) and Cleanfarms' Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It! page, read November 3, 2026.
