Results for the two predicted response functions used to
estimate storage DM losses with days in storage are presented
in Table 4. The linear response function fit the particle size
and bale wrap data the best according to AIC and BIC statistics.
Sanderson et al. [20] found storage DM losses increased
linearly, but Mooney et al. [15] observed DM losses increased
at a declining rate. For each day in storage, average storageDM
loss increased by 0.06% day1 for bales using full length material
(PS-1), while the losses increased by 0.02% day1 for
bales using 1.27 cm1.91 cm size material (PS-3). The difference
in the DM losses rate results in bales with particle size
PS-1 having roughly twice as much losses as bales with particle size PS-3 (Fig. 3). DM losses for bales wrapped in net
and film was approximately half that of the net wrapped bales
(Fig. 3). The film wrap protected the entire bale from exposure
to the weather; while the net wrap was exposed to weather.
Over the entire 225-day storage period, the results indicated
storage losses ranged from 6.5% to 14.2% depending on the
particle size and wrap material. In Mooney et al. [15], storage
losses ranged from 4% to 41% for the bales using agricultural
hay technologies depending on the bale shape and whether
the bale was covered.