Feeding out grass silage

jerseycowsman

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cornwall
Currently dig out grass silage into a pile with a grab, then use a large Emily bucket to pick it up and feed it along troughs. Simple and little to go wrong. Only needs one tractor.
Stupidly thinking out loud now, can I fill a mixer wagon with loader tractor and then hitch loader tractor up to it and stir silage and feed it out, or does the wagon need to be stirring all the time and have another tractor attached?
Are forage boxes still a thing? Do the need another tractor too?
Should I just stick with my simple current system?
 

Masseymad

Member
We have used the loader to fill the tub mixer and then feed it out. Its just a 10 cube but only a 100 horse power tractor. leave it to mix for a minute before feeding out to mix first and second cut up but doesnt take much starting up. We do normally have anouther tractor on it because we do two mixes a day and one has straw and meal in so its a bit of a pain to be taking the wagon on and of all the time. if all your feeding is silo just stick to a simple system big bucket and crack on.
 
Location
Cheshire
Have a 10 cube tub that only starts breaking shear bolts when loaded above 5 tonnes. Effectively we use it to move silage from the clamp and place it at the feed fence, No meal is mixed normally, it works for us but we normally have a tractor sat on it. It’s just a case of working out time savings over added complexity and cost.
 

dinderleat

Member
Location
Wells
Currently dig out grass silage into a pile with a grab, then use a large Emily bucket to pick it up and feed it along troughs. Simple and little to go wrong. Only needs one tractor.
Stupidly thinking out loud now, can I fill a mixer wagon with loader tractor and then hitch loader tractor up to it and stir silage and feed it out, or does the wagon need to be stirring all the time and have another tractor attached?
Are forage boxes still a thing? Do the need another tractor too?
Should I just stick with my simple current system?
Yes used a Keenan 140 like this for years did a full ration and still do it occasionally when the tractor is busy.
 

Fendt516profi

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Yorkshire
 

sidjon

Member
Location
EXMOOR
OP is pit silage? Wouldn't think the hustler be the best for that?

I've a mounted one for bales, and think it's tremendous for that job 🤩
They cope with anything.
 

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Currently dig out grass silage into a pile with a grab, then use a large Emily bucket to pick it up and feed it along troughs. Simple and little to go wrong. Only needs one tractor.
Stupidly thinking out loud now, can I fill a mixer wagon with loader tractor and then hitch loader tractor up to it and stir silage and feed it out, or does the wagon need to be stirring all the time and have another tractor attached?
Are forage boxes still a thing? Do the need another tractor too?
Should I just stick with my simple current system?

I've been going through the same thought process recently and I think I'm going to go for a decent size second hand wagon.
 

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
Simplest wagon is a Mix Max from hiSpec similar to a Keenan but no auger just a door. You may just not get one big enough.
Next thing you know you'll be adding molasses, maybe a bit of blend...... then it'll carp itself and you'll wonder how you're going to feed that day. Been there done that, still there and doing that but not for milkers so not a panic as much nowadays.
 

early riser

Member
Location
Up North
Currently dig out grass silage into a pile with a grab, then use a large Emily bucket to pick it up and feed it along troughs. Simple and little to go wrong. Only needs one tractor.
Stupidly thinking out loud now, can I fill a mixer wagon with loader tractor and then hitch loader tractor up to it and stir silage and feed it out, or does the wagon need to be stirring all the time and have another tractor attached?
Are forage boxes still a thing? Do the need another tractor too?
Should I just stick with my simple current system?
If it’s just grass silage that you’re feeding then would you not be better with a big shear grab and just put blocks out along feed barrier twice a week?

like you I grab forages (grass silage and wholecrop) out into a heap and mix with a large rehandling bucket but only because I’m adding brewers grains and want to achieve a ‘mix’ of sorts.

if you’re only feeding the one forage then I don’t see the point in fluffing it all up and letting air in all for the sake of putting it out in a pretty straight line?
 

jerseycowsman

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cornwall
If it’s just grass silage that you’re feeding then would you not be better with a big shear grab and just put blocks out along feed barrier twice a week?

like you I grab forages (grass silage and wholecrop) out into a heap and mix with a large rehandling bucket but only because I’m adding brewers grains and want to achieve a ‘mix’ of sorts.

if you’re only feeding the one forage then I don’t see the point in fluffing it all up and letting air in all for the sake of putting it out in a pretty straight line?
It’s put into long troughs, not a barrier, and lots of different fields of grass and cuts of grass in the pit, some of which the cows prefer over others, do mixing is necessary
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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