How much do we know about alfalfa bales? This queen of fodder is a fundamental product for the livestock industry feed, but it also has a number of characteristics that you probably do not know.
Therefore, we invite you to learn about the different types of alfalfa bales, their technical specifications and the main countries of greatest production in Latin America.
Types of alfalfa bales that we commercialize
Before starting, it is important to clarify the meaning of bales, this refers to the formation of small or large blocks of an element, in order to facilitate its storage or transfer from one place to another.
The production of these bales begins when the alfalfa is mature and is harvested by the producers, who start a drying process to extract between 15 to 18% of the moisture that the alfalfa has, which will then pass to the prismatic balers.
Here, bales of different sizes are formed and the following types are obtained:
Alfalfa mega bales
In the last few years, mega bales have become a favorite among cattle breeders, due to their low cost.
Besides, it is a powerful alternative in the economy because of its cultivation and management system in cattle farms due to its nutritional and dietetic composition for each animal.
Currently, many Latin American countries are looking for ways to create technologies to advance in the production of alfalfa mega-bales and to meet the global demand for this product.
Mega bales are able to conserve up to 40% of the leaves in each roll, as well as a greater amount of properties that benefit livestock, being one of its most important advantages.
Unlike other bales, in mega-bales the stems are not intertwined, which facilitates their future division.
Mini alfalfa bales
They basically represent half of a standard 0.14 cubic meter bale, according to the creators of this product developed for horse breeders and achieved through a unique compaction process with the help of a press.
During this process the alfalfa does not lose properties, only the air is extracted to reduce the size of the bale, without affecting its weight. However, compared to the above or a traditional bale, mini-bales are a bit more expensive but ideal for the premium market, such as elite horses.
Estimated price per ton of an alfalfa Megabale
Mega bales are developed in several Latin American countries and each one has a specific sales value.
When making a small comparison with other commercial presentations of alfalfa for farm animals, we found that the mega bale is the most profitable that currently exists, since it offers farmers and breeders the possibility of feeding their animals with a product rich in nutrients and minerals at low storage and transportation costs.
Technical specifications and characteristics of an alfalfa Megafardo and Minifardo
Although we are talking about the same product, alfalfa, its presentations in megafardo and minifardo have unique and different physical characteristics, which we group among its dimensions, weight, color and duration of the product.
Measurements and dimensions
- The mega bale measures approximately 1.2 x 0.8 x 2.3 meters long.
- The mini alfalfa bales are approximately 0.4 x 0.3 x 0.8 meters long.
Approximate weight in kilograms
- Mega bales weigh 400 to 550 kilograms each.
- The mini-bale weighs between 25 to 30 kilograms approximately.
Color
The colors of both the minifardo and the megafardo are identical, a bright and striking green color that is obtained when properly dried.
But we must stop a little to explain the meaning of the colors that we can observe in some bales, since they indicate the quality of the bale and the digestibility of the animals
- Bright green color: indicates that the alfalfa was dried quickly under a suitable temperature and without being in contact with rain.
- Yellow color: this color is present when alfalfa is exposed to the sun for a long time.
- White layers with green: usually occurs when there is fungal development, after baling the product with excess of spray on top of the windrow.
Duration
The durability of this product will basically depend on the number of animals owned by the customer, as well as the amount of food they consume.
For example, a 500 kg horse usually consumes about 10 kg of feed per day, which can be divided between alfalfa, hay, oats and feed.
On the other hand, if we refer to the durability of this product after acquiring it, it will depend on the environment and conditions in which it is stored.
If it is stored in an extremely humid place, it may get wet and rot, while if it is stored in a dry place with high temperatures, it will completely lose its humidity and dry out.
Regardless of the situation, when alfalfa is damaged, it loses its nutritional levels and properties.
Main alfalfa bale production countries
Chile and Argentina are the main producers and exporters of alfalfa bales in Latin America, with the Chinese market being the best buyer, as we will see below:
Alfalfa bales in Chile
The different climates and the characteristics of the Chilean soil throughout its surface facilitate the planting of alfalfa in the country, with the Bio-Bio and Valparaiso area being the region that concentrates 70% of the crop. However, it is also necessary to emphasize the important improvement that the crops have been able to undergo through genetics and can reach an annual production of approximately 1,350,000 tons.
Each of the above elements and the availability of water in the area, allows obtaining a high quality product and higher yields, reaching up to 25 tons/ha, with a low average of 18 to 20 tons/ha. Compared to hay production in the country, this is equivalent to 100 to 120 bales weighing 30 kilograms per cutting.
At present, alfalfa crops can last from 4 to 5 years, to be later rotated with wheat, oats or barley to let the soil of the product rest.
Chile shares with other countries such as Argentina, different mechanisms to achieve the best treatment of the product.
Unfortunately, there are no records available of the quantitative transactions that have achieved alfalfa production at the national level.
Alfalfa Bales in Argentina
Alfalfa production in Argentina is centered in the southern region of the provinces of La Pampa, Neuquén, Córdoba and Rio Negro, being considered one of the most difficult areas to cultivate, but with time and irrigation has improved considerably, in addition to the different techniques and machinery that are used and help during the process.
At the same time, the province of Santiago del Estero, has also managed to position itself among the largest producers of food, due to its striking irrigation systems.
This irrigation modality is known as flooding or water blanket, where a large amount of liquid is “injected” to help dry surfaces with few nutrients in crop production.
Another striking technique applied in this country is the planting of alfalfa after removing the onion crop in order to take advantage of the prepared and fermented surface of the previous product.
But this does not mean that they do not sow alfalfa seeds on land that has not been cultivated or fermented for several years.
Argentina manages to achieve a production of 3.2 million hectares between consorted and pure crops, reaching 24% of the world market for this product compared to Canada and the United States.
Conclusion
Alfalfa is one of the most important products worldwide for the feeding of some animals, such as cattle or horses, and bales are the easiest and most convenient way to transport them to the place where they are located.
These bales are available as mega bales and mini bales, the latter being ideal for elite horses. On the other hand, the megafardo is designed for the bovine sector.
To conclude, America is the continent with the largest production of alfalfa on the planet, specifically the countries of Chile and Argentina. But if you want to know more information on the subject or clarify some doubts, we invite you to contact us for further advice.
