Choosing between netwrap and twine for your operation

Published 29th February 2024
Feeding All Studies

When it comes to hay bales, the decision between netwrap and twine is a common dilemma. While many hay producers and farmers have already made their choice, for those still pondering, below are some facts and tips to guide you in making an informed decision.

When it comes to hay production, weather and timing are undeniable factors. The choice between twine and netwrap can significantly impact your operation, offering a decision where you have considerable control.

We’ll explore three key criteria: Bale Durability, Cost per Bale, and the considerations for High-Moisture Baleage. Afterward, we’ll look into the aftermath — feeding the hay to livestock!

Twine vs. Netwrap

  Twine Netwrap
Bale Durability The durability of twine-wrapped bales depends on the material used, such as polypropylene, plastic, or sisal. With proper settings, twine can create durable bales, but sisal twine may degrade over time, potentially leading to hay loss during transportation or storage. Twine-wrapped bales fare better in sheltered sites. Netwrapped bales often maintain their shape and hay quality better than twine. Studies* show that netwrap significantly reduces storage and handling losses compared to twine, offering a secure, full-width netted casing with better water-shedding qualities.
Cost per Bale Twine is an economical choice, costing roughly 90% less than netwrap per roll. However, more twine is needed per bale, with about 20 revolutions required for a sturdy bale. Consequently, the actual cost of twine-wrapped bales is about half that of netwrapped bales. Equipment (baler) is also less expensive to purchase. Netwrap seems more expensive, but you can achieve more bales with the same length of netwrap compared to twine as netwrap requires fewer rotations to create a bale. Studies indicate that a baler using netwrap can produce more bales per hour than one using twine, potentially offsetting the cost by saving in fuel and labour. Equipment (baler) with only netwrap or capable of both netwrap and twine is more expensive to purchase.
High-Moisture Baleage Twine can be used for high-moisture forage but requires attention to the type used. Rodenticide-treated sisal twine may degrade plastic film over time, creating opportunities for loss through mold or yeast creation. Netwrap minimises the risk of creating holes in plastic film during baling, contributing to a smoother bale surface before plastic wrap.

*Source:  American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)

Price comparison**

  Twine Netwrap
Cost per roll $39 $313
Cost per bale $0.69 – 0.75 $1.70 – 1.90
Cost of equipment Starts around $34,000 Starts around $39,000

**Prices estimates based on 2022 averages and may vary by region and season. Prices in USD.

What to conclude?

While there’s no definitive answer to the twine vs. netwrap debate, determining factors such as hay type, associated risks, and labor costs is crucial in making the right choice for your operation.

As a general guideline, twine is suitable for farmers or ranchers producing a smaller amount of hay for personal use, especially when bales won’t undergo extensive handling. On the other hand, farmers or contractors aiming for retail markets should weigh the marketability of their products, considering the need for frequent handling and transportation, where netwrap may emerge as the preferable choice over twine.

Feeding out hay bales

Whether you produce your own hay or buy it out, when it comes to handling or unrolling the bales, Hustler offers user-friendly solutions that work with both twine or netwrap:

Softhands bale handling systems

Softhands® has been developed and field-tested to provide more grip on the bale, reducing damage and deformation. With all pitch point eliminated from the design, no chance to rip or damage the netwrap or the plastic of your bales. Built with safety and user-friendliness in mind, operators rave about how nice these bale grabs are to use for handling both dry hay and wrapped silage. The Softhands® bale handlers carry Hustler’s 5-year warranty for added peace of mind.

Self-loading systems for easy netwrap or twin removal

Snaplox

All Hustler mounted bale feeder/processor/unroller machines are equipped with integrated tines and Snaplox, a patented, automatic, hands-free connection and disconnection system. No need to climb in and out of the tractor cab to connect and disconnect the time from the main chassis, which allows the operator to spear the bale, position it above the feeder/processor/unroller main cradle to remove easily and securely the twine or the netwrap. 

Total Control Loading

All Hustler trailed/pull-type bale feeder/processor/unroller machines are equipped with Total Control Loading back-end loader. The simple design, uses just one single hydraulic to complete the entire loading operation, and reliable mechanical innovation to ensure it works every time, allows the operator to spear the bale and load it automatically above the platform to securely remove twine or the netwrap.  

 

Think ahead of the herd with Hustler, contact us today for a quote or to book an on-farm demo!

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Here at Hustler, farming sustainably is at the heart of everything we do.

Our belief in sustainable farming practices underpins our range of world-leading livestock feeding solutions. If you are looking for farming equipment near you or buying livestock feeding equipment, contact our friendly team today! 

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