Balotade® Round Bale Hay Net, 45 mm Mesh

Round bale hay net — 7 sizes, 45 mm mesh

A Balotade® net pulled over a whole round bale like a sleeve — the answer for yards that turn horses out with a bale of hay to eat at will. Instead of a trampled, soaked ring of hay scraped around the bale, you get forage that comes off evenly and ends up where it should: inside the horses.

How much hay is wasted without a net?

A bale put out loose in the paddock loses — depending on the weather and the number of horses — anywhere from a tenth to several tens of per cent of its weight. Horses drag hay across the ground, sleep on it, soil it and tread it into the mud. Whatever gets scattered does not, in practice, get eaten. The net closes the bale off from above and at the sides, so the horse takes hay only through the mesh — the rest stays where it is, dry and clean.

Why slower hay intake is better for your horse

A horse at grass spends most of the day eating — the figure usually quoted is 14 to 18 hours. Its digestive system is built for exactly that: gastric acid is secreted continuously, whether or not there is anything in the stomach. The natural buffer is saliva, and in horses saliva is produced mainly by chewing. A haynet’s worth of hay thrown loose on the stable floor disappears in 40 to 60 minutes, after which the horse stands for hours with nothing to eat.

A net reverses that ratio. The horse pulls out a few stalks at a time, chews for longer and produces more saliva. The same weight of hay lasts two to three times longer, and the gaps between meals stop being long windows without forage.

• Less boredom — weaving, crib-biting and wood-chewing usually come from boredom and long breaks between feeds. A horse that is busy eating looks for less to do.
• Prolonged access to forage — instead of swinging between a large ration and hours with nothing.
• Easier weight management — good doers, ponies and horses prone to putting on weight get the same forage ration spread across the whole day, without cutting it drastically.
• Less waste — hay does not end up under hooves, mixed into bedding or trodden in. At current hay prices a net pays for itself quickly.

Choosing the size

The size given is the dimension of the bale, not of the net laid flat. The net itself is made with an allowance — big enough to be pulled over a bale of the stated dimensions. So there is no need to add anything “to be safe”: for a 130 × 130 cm bale you take a 130 × 130 cm net.

You read the size off the diameter and width of the bale — the first figure is the diameter, the second the width. If your bales fall between two sizes, choose the larger one: the surplus material simply settles onto the bale, and as the hay goes down the net drops with it.

• 120 × 120 cm — bales up to about 120 cm in diameter, standard on smaller yards.
• 120 × 150 cm — narrow but tall bales.
• 130 × 130 cm — the most common baled format.
• 130 × 150 cm — bales around 130 cm in diameter and greater width.
• 140 × 140 cm — large agricultural bales.
• 140 × 150 cm — large bales of increased width.
• 150 × 150 cm — the largest bales, haylage included.

If you are hesitating between two sizes, take the larger. Surplus material simply settles onto the bale, whereas a net that is too small cannot be pulled on without risking torn mesh.

Built for outdoor conditions

A round bale net works outdoors: rain, sun and daily pulling by several horses at once. That is why it is made from thick braided HTPP cord, with the panels joined by reinforced seams, visible as the thickened bands running through the mesh. Those seams carry the load when the net is stretched over a full bale.

The cord is UV-stabilised — and in this format that matters most of all. Unlike a stable net, a round bale net barely ever leaves the paddock: it sits in the sun all summer. Unstabilised polypropylene loses strength in those conditions within a single season and starts to crumble when pulled. That problem does not arise here.

The 45 mm mesh is a deliberate choice. At a bale in the paddock several horses usually eat at once, often of different ages and abilities — a tighter mesh would lead to competition and to horses lower in the herd order being driven off.

Why Balotade®

Balotade® nets are made from braided cord, not thin string. The braid is thick and smooth, with no sharp edges that could chafe lips and gums. In the round bale version the panels are joined by reinforced seams that carry the load of the whole bale — the most exposed point in this format.

The weave is knotless — the cords interlace at each opening instead of being tied. That has two practical consequences: there are no hard lumps for the horse to rub its lips against with every mouthful, and there is no single knot for the mesh to start unravelling from once it gives. The cord is also UV-stabilised, so it does not lose strength after a season in the sun.

Specification

Use and care

• Pull the net tight over the whole bale — the less loose material, the fewer chances of catching and the more evenly the hay comes off.
• Keep an eye on the net as the hay goes down — the bale shrinks and the net drops with it. Adjust how it sits so the surplus does not start lying on the ground; this matters particularly with shod horses.
• Stand the bale on ground that does not sink — in mud the lower part of the net will get dirty and wear through faster.
• Supervise the first few days — some horses need a moment to work out how it functions. It is worth offering a small amount of loose hay alongside at the start.
• Cleaning — shake out the remains, rinse with lukewarm water if needed and let it dry. The material does not absorb water, so it dries quickly.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose the size for my bale?

Measure the diameter and the width of the bale, then choose a net with the same dimensions. The size given describes the bale, not the net laid flat — the net is made with an allowance so that it can be pulled on, so do not add anything “just in case”. For a bale 130 cm in diameter you take 130 × 130 cm (or 130 × 150 cm if the bale is wider). Where your bales fall between sizes, take the larger.

How do I fit the net onto a round bale?

The simplest way is to pull the net onto the bale, roll the bale over and pull the sleeve up from the other side. With large bales it is easier to pull the net over the bale while it is still lifted on a loader, and only lower it once the net is on.

Is the net suitable for haylage?

Yes. The material does not absorb water. Just remember to rinse the net once the bale is used up — haylage residue can dry hard in the mesh.

How many horses can eat from one bale in a net?

With bales of 130 cm and larger, comfortably 4–6 horses, provided they have access from every side. In a group with a clear hierarchy it is worth providing a second source of forage so that horses lower in the order are not driven off.

Can the net be left outdoors for a whole season?

Yes — that is what it is for. Like any material exposed to sun and frost it wears over time, so it is worth checking the seams and mesh before each new bale.