Braskem, the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas, has invested in the development and supply of solutions that offer competitiveness and high yield for Brazilian livestock. An example of that is the wrap, a polyethylene film for animal feed storage, such as pre-dried silage.

For a long time, the pre-drying process - produced by the mixture of mown and dried plants, usually grasses and legumes - was only used to provide nutrition to animals during winter or dry periods in countries with colder climates, such as Chile, Europe and the United States. However, with the model change in Brazilian cattle farming, which is increasingly being intensively carried out, the need for food management has become essential. 

"Cattle farming is undergoing a process of transformation. Today, agriculture has demanded areas that were previously occupied by pasture. Thus, cattle ranchers are seeing the need to produce in smaller areas, feed the animals directly and use new technologies", says Ana Paiva, a specialist in Market Development at Braskem.

Faced with these challenges, the demand for silos-burden by rural producers is on a rising trend. "The product differential has to meet the highest demands on its application, since the final product needs to form a silo. Hence, the product must contain excellent chemical and mechanical characteristics to ensure protection, strength, durability and a highly sealed environment", said Rodrigo Gerling, director of Extraplast, Carazinho's (RS) partner for Braskem's product development since 2013. In the case of the company from Rio Grande do Sul, some of its largest customers are dairy producers from all over Brazil.

As for the Paraná company, Manuli Fitasa, which has been trading the films since 2016, for silage bales packaging, it sees the Brazilian market with optimism. Betting on growth, the company expects to reach 30% share in the domestic wrap market this year.
Martinho Hendrickx, producer of silage bales in Holambra (SP), proves the effectiveness of the wrap in the field. He packs about 20,000 bales of pre-dried silage a year - each batch weighing 150 kilograms and 100% fertilized with organic fertilizers - equivalent to approximately 740 coils. "The PE film protects the grass from the effects of light and air, keeping it fresh for up to eight months in the field", he says. Satisfied with growing demand for silage bales, it now plans to double its pre-dried hay production by the end of 2018 to 110 hectares with a national distribution and a guarantee of good packaging and protection.

About Braskem
Braskem is the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas, with an annual volume of more than 20 million tons, including the production of other basic chemicals and petrochemicals, with annual revenues of R$ 55 billion. With the purpose of improving people's lives, creating sustainable solutions in chemistry and plastic, Braskem exports to Customers in approximately 100 countries, has around 8 thousand members and operates 41 industrial units located in Brazil, USA, Germany and Mexico, the latter in partnership with the Mexican Idesa.