BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION For the purposes of this specification, stock feed means feed for livestock which is harvested from any suitable crop for making silage.

It is often necessary to produce silage for consumption by livestock in the winter or for livestock or game which may or may not have access to pastures for grazing purposes. The silage has an abundance of bacteria which are used to recolonise the flora in an animal's gut and aids in digestion and conversion of nutrients.

Traditionally, silage comprises green or mature fodder that is fermented to retard spoilage and produce a succulent winter feed for livestock. Silage is often made by cutting an immature or green stock feed crop into small pieces with a mechanical cutter, the small

pieces then being transported to a pit or the like as quickly as possible to minimize contact with the air. The pieces are deposited into a pit and are compacted to remove as much of the air as possible.

At this stage additives may be added before the pit is covered so as to limit exposure to air and water so that the cut stock feed can ferment for a period of 3 to 6 weeks. The pit is covered simply by placing plastic or fibre sheets there-over and then covering the sheets with soil so that fermentation may take place. It will be appreciated that the cut stock feed is not completely sealed from air and water and this may prove to be disadvantageous.

The above method is disadvantageous in that trenches, pits or the like must be prepared in order to accommodate the cut stock feed crop which is deposited therein. This is often labour intensive.

Further labour is required in the event that some of the silage is needed to feed livestock, which is often once or twice daily. The pit, trench or the like must be dug up, the silage removed and used within a few hours before it spoils. The cut face must then be properly resealed so as to avoid oxidation and loss of weight and nutritional value.

A further disadvantage is that it is often necessary to prepare the pit, trench or the like in an area close to the livestock requiring the silage as feed. This is not always possible and the silage must then be transported to the livestock.

The above may raise transportation costs. Furthermore, it increases the possibility of spoiling the silage due to the fact that it may be exposed to air during transport thus losing its nutritional value.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a novel method of baling and ensiling which at least partially minimizes the above problems.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel baler for baling and ensiling immature stock feed which at least partially minimizes the above problems.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a baler including a container for containing cut stock feed, the container

being adapted to receive a lining therein so as to define a pocket in the container; and compressing means for compressing the cut stock feed received in the pocket to form a compacted body of cut stock feed within the pocket which when sealed constitutes a bale.

Securing means may be provided for releasably securing the lining in the container. In an embodiment of the invention, the securing means comprises a plurality of clamps to clamp the lining within the container.

The lining may be comprised of any suitable polymeric material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lining comprises a 200 micron UV protected white or green plastic.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lining may be preformed over a mould to form the pocket, such that the pocket fits snugly against an interior surface of the container.

The lining may be reusable and may have flaps for purposes of closing the pocket once the cut stock feed has been received therein and compacted so as to constitute the bale. It is envisaged that by sealing the pocket, exposure of the compacted body of cut stock

feed to air will be minimized and the spoilage thereof will accordingly also be minimized.

The flaps may be closed by sealing means selected from the group including a hot air weld, glue, taping, string, straps or a combination of closing means. Alternatively, the ends of the liner may simply be sealed together.

In one form of the invention, the container may comprise a base and a plurality of wall panels extending there from. Preferably the wall panels extend generally upwardly from the base.

The clamps may be located at an operatively upper edge of the wall panels.

The base of the container may be provided in the form of a separate base panel.

In an embodiment of the invention, at least one wall panel is movable between a closed position wherein the wall panels and the base constitute the container, and an open position so as to facilitate the removal of the bale from the baler.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the container may at least partially be collapsible.

The wall panels may be pivotally movable relative to the base or are releasably securable to the base. The wall panels may be pivotally moveable relative to the base between a collapsed position and an erected position wherein the wall panels together with the base constitute the container.

In a preferred form of the invention, the container comprises a base having two opposing edges and two opposing ends; two opposing side wall panels extending from the edges of the base and two opposing end wall panels extending from the ends of the base.

Preferably in plan view the base is rectangular in shape.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the baler includes a frame structure being mountable to a trailer or the like. The base panel may be hinged to the frame structure. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the baler may be mounted to the ground.

At least one wall panel may be connectable to the frame by means of a hinge member such that the wall panel is movable between the closed position and the open position. Preferably the wall panel is releasably connectable to the frame structure.

In one embodiment of the invention, the wall panel may be releasably secured in the closed position to the frame structure by a closing means. Preferably the closing means comprises a lever having a cam action so as to secure the wall panel to the frame in the closed position.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention at least one wall panel may be pivotally connected to the base by means of a hinge.

Preferably two opposing wall panels are connected to the edges of the base such that they are pivotally moveable relative to the base between the collapsed position and the erected position.

The compressing means may comprise a compressing member and hydraulic piston for moving the compressing member between a retracted position wherein the compressing member is displaced from the cut stock feed in the pocket and a compressing position wherein the compressing member compresses the cut stock feed in

the pocket so as to form a compacted body of cut stock feed within the pocket.

The compressing member may be provided in the form of a plate dimensioned and configured to be received in the container, when the plate is in the compressing position, thereby to compress the cut stock feed contained therein. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the compressing member is provided for in the form of a grid.

The compressing means may further comprise an actuator for actuating the compressing means.

In a preferred form of the invention the base of the container may be mountable on the floor of the trailer and may be pivotable between a rest position wherein the base is substantially parallel to the floor of the trailer and an inclined position wherein the base is angled relative to the floor of the trailer to facilitate removal of the bale.

The compressing means may be mountable to the frame structure and guide members may be provided on the frame structure for guiding the compressing member within the container.

The frame structure may be designed to accommodate at least two containers adjacent each other.

The baler may further comprise platforms for enabling an operator to stand next to the container. Preferably the actuator is located on the frame structure so as to be easily accessible by the operator.

The wall panels may have apertures therein for receiving taping, string, straps or the like such that the taping, string, straps or the like can be threaded through the apertures and looped around the compacted body so as to close the pocket with flaps of the lining.

In an embodiment of the invention, rolls of string, taping or the like may be mountable to the frame structure for use in closing the compacted body in the pocket.

The cut stock feed comprises cuttings from any suitable crop for making silage. In one embodiment of the invention, the cut stock feed comprises cuttings of maize, sorghum, wheat, barley and arigrostas grasses.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing silage comprising the steps of; i. providing a baler as discussed above; ii. harvesting an immature stock feed from any suitable crop; iii. depositing cut stock feed into the pocket received within the container; iv. compressing the cut stock feed in order to remove at least some of the air therefrom and in so doing forming a compacted body of cut stock feed; v. enclosing the stock feed in the pocket to limit exposure of the stock feed to air.

The method as defined above which may include at least one of the following additional steps: i. Adding additives to the stock feed before compression; ii. closing the pocket by folding the flaps over and strapping the pocket with string, tape, straps or the like ; The method as defined above wherein the harvested stock feed is cut into pieces of from 3mm to 25mm in size.

The method as defined above wherein the optimum weight of the stock feed crop to be deposited into"the baler"is from 30kg to 300kg to facilitate transport.

The stock feed and the liner used in the above method are the same as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Without thereby limiting the scope of the invention and by means of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: is a perspective view of the baler according to the invention; Figure 2: is a perspective view of the baler of Figure 1, showing the container with two wall panels in the open position; Figure 3: is a front view of the baler of Figures 1 or 2, wherein the baler is mounted on a trailer and

the wall panels are in the closed position; Figure 4: is a side view of the baler of Figures 1-3, wherein the baler is mounted on a trailer and the wall panels are in the closed position; Figure 5: is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the baler according to the invention.

Figures 6.1. are perspective views of the baler of Figure 1 - 6. 4. in use; In the accompanying drawings the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding parts.

First Embodiment of the Invention Referring to figure 1, the baler 10 comprises a container 15 for containing cut stock feed and is adapted to receive a lining 20 which forms a pocket in the container 15. The baler 10 further comprises compressing means 13 for compressing the cut stock feed in the pocket so as to form a compressed body of stock feed. The baler 10 also includes a frame structure 25.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, the container 15 comprises a base panel 16 having two opposing edges 16.1 and two opposing ends 16.2. The base panel 16, in plan view is rectangular in shape.

Side wall panels 17.1 are secured to the frame structure 25, while end wall panels 17.2 are connected to the frame structure 25 by means of hinges 18 provided on the frame structure 25 so that the end wall panels 17.2 are moveable from a closed position (as shown in figure 1) to an open position (as shown in Figure 2) where removal of a bale from the baler 10 is facilitated.

End wall panels 17.2 are secured to the frame structure 25 in the closed position by a closing means provided in the from of a lever 19 having a cam action, which lever 19 is received within the frame structure 25.

It is envisaged that the container 15 is further provided with securing means in the forms of clamps 30 for clamping the ends of the lining 20, which ends are folded over the operatively upper edges of the wall panels 35. It will be appreciated that other means may be used to secure the lining within the container 15.

Referring to figures 1 to 6, the compressing means 13 comprises a compressing member in the form of a grid 13.1 and a hydraulic piston 13.2 for moving the grid 13.1 between a retracted position and a compressing position (as depicted in Figure 6.2) wherein the grid 13.1 compresses the cut stock feed to form a compacted body of cut stock feed in the pocket, such that upon sealing thereof a bale is formed.

The compressing means 13 further comprises an actuator 14 for actuating the compressing means 13 between the retracted and compressing positions.

It is envisaged that the frame structure 25 is mounted to the floor of a trailer 40 (as depicted in figures 3,4 and 6) to which the compressing means 13 is mounted and to which the side wall panels 17.1 are welded. Guide members 41 are also included for guiding the grid 13.1 within the container 15. The actuator 14 is also provided for on the frame structure 25 so that it is easily accessible by an operator.

The baler 10 also includes platforms 45 (as shown in Figures 3,4 and 6) which may form part of the frame structure 25 or may be

mounted to the trailer 40 so as to allow an operator to stand thereon.

Second Embodiment of the Invention In a second embodiment of the invention, and referring to figure 5, the baler 10 is the same as describe above except for the container 15 and the manner in which the wall panels are connected to the base 16. In this embodiment, the container 15 is at least partially collapsible.

Two side wall panels 17.1 are connected to the edges 16.1 of the base panel 16 and two end wall panels 17.2 are pivotally connected to the ends 16.2 of the base 16 by means of hinges 18.

The two end wall panels 17.2 are pivotally moveable relative to the base 16 between a collapsed position shown in figure 5 and an erected position (not shown) wherein the wall panels 17.1 and 17.2 together with the base 16 constitute the container 15.

The method according to the invention

It will be appreciated that the method is applicable to both the first and second embodiments set out above. Reference will however only be made to the first embodiment.

Referring to figures 6.1 to 6.4, a baler 10 is provided, which baler 10 is attached to a mechanical cutter (not shown). The two end wall panels 17.2 are secured in the closed position to the frame structure 25 of the baler.

The lining 20, which is constituted of 200 micron UV protected polyurethane, is placed into the container 15 to form a pocket. The lining 20 is typically preformed over a mould to form a pocket such that the pocket has the general shape of the container 15 and accordingly fits snugly against an interior surface of the container 15.

A chute 50, which may be provided for on the mechanical cutter, then deposits the cut or chopped pieces of the stock feed into the pocket until it is nearly full. It is preferable that the amount of stock feed deposited into the pocket is between 30 kg to 300kg.

An operator, standing on the platforms 45, then removes the chute from the container 15 and actuates the compressing means 13 such

that the grid 13.1 moves between the retracted position to a compressing position wherein it begins to compress the cut stock feed.

In so doing, at least some of the air between the cut or chopped pieces of stock feed is removed and a compacted body of stock feed is formed. It is envisaged by the inventor that at least 90% of the air in the cut stock feed is removed by compression.

The operator then causes the grid 13.1 to move back to the retracted position so that the operator may have clear access to the container 15.

The lining 20 is provided with flaps 21 which are folded over so that the lining encloses the compressed body of stock feed and thus prevents exposure of the compressed body of stock feed to the air. The compacted body of stock feed is once again compressed so as to remove any further air that may be present therein.

In order to facilitate the closing of the pocket, apertures 55 are provided for in the end wall panels 17.2 so that nylon straps 60 can be threaded there through and can be looped around the compacted

body of stock feed so as to form a bale. The nylon straps 60 are also used to retain compression and the shape of the bale.

Once the pocket is closed, the operator then opens the end wall panels to the open position so as to remove the bale from the baler.

In order to facilitate the removal of the bale, the base panel 16 of the container is preferably mounted to the floor of the trailer 40 and is pivotable between a rest position wherein it is parallel to the floor of the trailer 40 and an inclined position wherein the base panel 16 is inclined to the floor of the trailer 40 such that bale can easily slide out from the container 15 onto a trailer (not shown) used to store the bales.

The advantage of using the baler according to the invention is that the time during which the chopped or cut stock feed is exposed to the air is minimized by the fact that once deposited into the pocket, the pocket is immediately closed. Furthermore the bales formed are of a manageable size and are easily transportable.

It is also envisaged by the inventor that the baler may also be used to form bales from stock feed which has been ensiled according to traditional methods. Accordingly, should stock feed be dug out of a

pit or the like for transport and subsequent consumption by livestock, the baler can be used to enclose the stock feed within the pocket to form bales which again can be easily transported. The spoilage of such stock feed during transport is therefore minimized.

The above are only embodiments of the invention and it will be appreciated that many variations in detail are possible without thereby departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

For example, the baler may comprise at least two containers which are mounted adjacent each other such that a first operator can strap the compacted body of stock feed in a first container in order to produce a bale, whilst a second operator can operate the compressing means to compress the stock feed in a second container thereby allowing for a continuous operation. It is also envisaged that three containers may be mounted adjacent each other.

The baler may also be provided with reels of nylon so as to facilitate the closing of the pocket. The reels may be mounted to the frame structure. Alternatively other closing means may be used such as hot air welds, tape or glue.

The base of the baler may be connected to the compressing means, such that when the compressing means moves from the compressing position to the retracted position, the base is caused to pivot from its rest position to an inclined position relative to the trailer or the ground on which the frame structure is mounted so as to facilitate removal of the bale.

Furthermore, it is envisaged that the baler need not be mounted to a trailer but may be mounted to the ground, for example near a mechanical cutter.