An apparatus for gathering round bales (B1, B2,...) resting on a surface, the apparatus comprising: - a bed for holding a plurality of bales (B1, B2,...), the bed having a front end, rear end and a lengthwise axis that extends through the front and rear ends (27, 32) of the bed; and - a loading assembly for lifting a bale and conveying it to the bed, the loading assembly comprising: - a first arm comprising a first conveyor belt having a first bale-engaging face with a lengthwise axis (X 1), wherein the lengthwise axis (X 1) of the first bale-engaging face is substantially parallel to the lengthwise axis of the bed or the lengthwise axis (X 1) of the first bale-engaging face and the lengthwise axis of the bed form an angle β1, β1 being less than about 30°: and - a second arm comprising a second conveyor belt having a second bale-engaging face with a lengthwise axis (X 2), wherein the lengthwise axis (X 2) of the second bale-engaging face is substantially parallel to the lengthwise axis of the bed or the lengthwise axis (X 2) of the second bale-engaging face and the lengthwise axis of the bed form an angle β2, β2 being less than about 30°, wherein: the first bale-engaging face has a vertical axis (Y 1), the vertical axis (Y 1) of the first bale-engaging face forming an angle θ1 with the surface on which the bales (B1, B2,...) rest, θ1 being between about 10° and about 80°; and the second bale-engaging face has a vertical axis (Y 2), the vertical axis (Y 2) of the second bale-engaging face forming an angle θ2 with the surface on which the bales (B1, B2,...) rest, θ2 being between about 10° and about 80°. - a bed for holding a plurality of bales (B1, B2,...), the bed having a front end, rear end and a lengthwise axis that extends through the front and rear ends (27, 32) of the bed; and - a loading assembly for lifting a bale and conveying it to the bed, the loading assembly comprising: - a first arm comprising a first conveyor belt having a first bale-engaging face with a lengthwise axis (X 1), wherein the lengthwise axis (X 1) of the first bale-engaging face is substantially parallel to the lengthwise axis of the bed or the lengthwise axis (X 1) of the first bale-engaging face and the lengthwise axis of the bed form an angle β1, β1 being less than about 30°: and - a second arm comprising a second conveyor belt having a second bale-engaging face with a lengthwise axis (X 2), wherein the lengthwise axis (X 2) of the second bale-engaging face is substantially parallel to the lengthwise axis of the bed or the lengthwise axis (X 2) of the second bale-engaging face and the lengthwise axis of the bed form an angle β2, β2 being less than about 30°, - a first arm comprising a first conveyor belt having a first bale-engaging face with a lengthwise axis (X 1), wherein the lengthwise axis (X 1) of the first bale-engaging face is substantially parallel to the lengthwise axis of the bed or the lengthwise axis (X 1) of the first bale-engaging face and the lengthwise axis of the bed form an angle β1, β1 being less than about 30°: and - a second arm comprising a second conveyor belt having a second bale-engaging face with a lengthwise axis (X 2), wherein the lengthwise axis (X 2) of the second bale-engaging face is substantially parallel to the lengthwise axis of the bed or the lengthwise axis (X 2) of the second bale-engaging face and the lengthwise axis of the bed form an angle β2, β2 being less than about 30°, the first bale-engaging face has a vertical axis (Y 1), the vertical axis (Y 1) of the first bale-engaging face forming an angle θ1 with the surface on which the bales (B1, B2,...) rest, θ1 being between about 10° and about 80°; and the second bale-engaging face has a vertical axis (Y 2), the vertical axis (Y 2) of the second bale-engaging face forming an angle θ2 with the surface on which the bales (B1, B2,...) rest, θ2 being between about 10° and about 80°.