Wreckit Ralf
Member
Do you have the use of extra tractors, drivers and trailers available for the long haul stuff that are ready to go to it when needed?
If you don't have enough trailers you'll still be quicker with 2 or 3 decent sized waggons.
Which forage harvester for longest chop length?
- Thread starter Winklepicker
- Start date
If you don't have enough trailers you'll still be quicker with 2 or 3 decent sized waggons.
Foregoneconclusion
Member
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
We deffo have a problem with the middle row.. we row 3 into 1.. ( 30 ft of grass) with our hibiscus this means middle row doesn't get disturbed so in all likelihood hits blades length ways and thats likely part of the issue here.!
We have had a wagon for 15 years plus now and still working these things out..!
I guess because i'm the one on the pit now i am acutely aware of small changes!
(apologies to OP for hijacking!)
davidroberts30
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
Shift the rake man over half a row so your bringing the grass to a clean bit of ground
That’s handy alright but it still can’t chop it long enough for a cows stomach to work to its full potential.
- Location
- Cheltenham
A can of worms here @james ds
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It’s not a can of worms, it’s just reality.
You can chop grass what ever length you want with the newer Claas machines so that is no longer an issue
What is the max length , can it do 3to 4 inches.
Yes.
Times move on james,10 years ago we were picking up 1500ac a year with a torro 51 and a jcb 310s on the clamp. 60ac on a good day.
- Location
- Cumbria
Mm, the old argument about chop length, it's been round and round, and round..........
The reality is, longer chop does appear to aid the digestion process, however shorter chop consolidates better in the clamp resulting in good/better quality silage.
I'll leave it there..
The reality is, longer chop does appear to aid the digestion process, however shorter chop consolidates better in the clamp resulting in good/better quality silage.
I'll leave it there..
Put the right machine on the pit for wagon silage and you won’t have any issues or waste.Mm, the old argument about chop length, it's been round and round, and round..........
The reality is, longer chop does appear to aid the digestion process, however shorter chop consolidates better in the clamp resulting in good/better quality silage.
I'll leave it there..
kiwi pom
Member
- Location
- canterbury NZ
You can say that for wagons or SP's, there's still some shite made though.
Dosent matter what machine is on the pit,it’s how it’s rolled.
We have over half up to 4 miles away !
Get 2 or 3 wagons
- Location
- Acton Scott, South Shropshire
AS you say - we go around and around. However, I cannot let your comment about consolidating shorter chop pass without comment. There is no reason why longer chop material cannot be consolidated as well as short chop and make equally as good silage (research work to show this - ref AHDB/silage solutions report from couple of years ago). It is down to the operator on the clamp - I accept that this is where it can go wrongMm, the old argument about chop length, it's been round and round, and round..........
The reality is, longer chop does appear to aid the digestion process, however shorter chop consolidates better in the clamp resulting in good/better quality silage.
I'll leave it there..
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- Location
- Cumbria
I agree, however, in reality in the heat of battle trailers are coming in from a SP thick and fast (or should be) the time per load on the clamp is much less than a one man band with a loader wagon, when the man on the buck-rake has much more time to manage the clamp. To deal with large volumes, the clamp equipment is usually bigger and heavier in a SP team than a one man band's buck- rake tractor also. So it's time v weight.
But, taking all factors in, with the right equipment and driver, short cut grass is much easier to consolidate in the clamp, plus you can get more in if under pressure.
As regards feeding, it's more complicated, and depends what and how you feed. The objective is to increase DM intake, however the ruminant must also have time to process what it eats. Longer cut grass maintains stomach PH better.
Given the world we live in now, it would interesting to know which creates the most methane, short or longer cut grass ?
But, taking all factors in, with the right equipment and driver, short cut grass is much easier to consolidate in the clamp, plus you can get more in if under pressure.
As regards feeding, it's more complicated, and depends what and how you feed. The objective is to increase DM intake, however the ruminant must also have time to process what it eats. Longer cut grass maintains stomach PH better.
Given the world we live in now, it would interesting to know which creates the most methane, short or longer cut grass ?
- Location
- Cheltenham
Given the world we live in now, it would interesting to know which creates the most methane, short or longer cut grass ?
interesting question. Good quality silage can be made using all the various systems that folk rant on about here!
interesting question. Good quality silage can be made using all the various systems that folk rant on about here!
ollie989898
Member
I used to ponder this a lot. If we accept that longer chopped silage takes up more volume for it's weight, is it better to feed this material or feed her shorter chopped material which will mean she can fit more actual dry matter into the same space? Like eating rice vs eating spaghetti?
Of course people will automatically assume that by eating longer chopped material she will have to chew/regurgitate more so this means a lot more saliva (bicarbonate) being produced. But she will have to go some to produce enough saliva to neutralise the acidity of an average silage, particularly if it is wet maize which can drop very low in pH because of it's sugar content.
So then, is the health benefit of longer chop silage mostly due to the fact she isn't able to eat as much volume and so it is, in effect self-limiting?
Of course people will automatically assume that by eating longer chopped material she will have to chew/regurgitate more so this means a lot more saliva (bicarbonate) being produced. But she will have to go some to produce enough saliva to neutralise the acidity of an average silage, particularly if it is wet maize which can drop very low in pH because of it's sugar content.
So then, is the health benefit of longer chop silage mostly due to the fact she isn't able to eat as much volume and so it is, in effect self-limiting?
- Location
- Acton Scott, South Shropshire
absolutely