If high-moisture forage (40-60%) is baled like normal hay, it will soon be rendered useless by explosive microbial activity. However, if this forage is baled and wrapped in plastic, anaerobic microorganisms will ferment some of the carbohydrates in the forage to lactic acid, which will inhibit the growth of detrimental microorganisms. This process consumes some dry matter and digestible energy (mainly water soluble carbohydrates), but this loss is small compared to dry matter losses that result from raking, baling, tedding, and storing round bales outside as hay.