Chopped straw vs. fine straw vs. premium – which type pays off when?

What actually sets our three types apart, and which one suits your farm best? The most important differences – simply explained.

Chopped straw – the proven entry point

Chopped straw is our classic and the basis for the other two types. Stalk length up to 10 cm, tied five times with twine, approx. 600 kg per bale. Dust removal and absorbency are already really good – completely sufficient for most stables. Especially popular with farms switching from conventional long straw or field-chopped straw: mucking out is noticeably faster and the stable stays drier.

Fine straw – even finer stalk length

Fine straw is basically our chopped straw, simply chopped one more time. This makes the stalks shorter (up to 5 cm instead of up to 10 cm). The dust produced during the second chopping is filtered out again right away – so dust removal stays just as good as with chopped straw, only the stalks are shorter. In return the straw becomes even more absorbent. Fine straw is tied four times with wire instead of twine. Fine straw is worthwhile for everyone who values shorter stalks and maximum absorbency.

Premium – maximum purity

Fine straw Premium is a further development of fine straw – the same stalk length (up to 5 cm), but even less dust. It is our top product with the lowest dust content of all. Premium is tied seven times with twine, and at approx. 570 kg the bales are slightly lighter than the other two types. Even so, the weight per truck can usually be fully used: the bale size has been optimised so that almost every truck type can be well utilised. Premium is especially worthwhile where dust is a real problem – for example with sensitive animals or when the farmer himself reacts sensitively to stable dust.

Which type pays off when?

There is no blanket answer – it depends on the farm. As a rough guide:

• Chopped straw: the solid entry point, especially when switching from long straw or field-chopped straw.
• Fine straw: when short stalks and maximum absorbency matter most.
• Premium: when as little dust as possible is the top priority.

Not sure which type fits your farm? It's best to talk directly to your local dealer – they can advise you best on which type is really worthwhile for you.