McHale or Kuhn straw chopper.

[Martyn]

They were 6k dearer for us

What machine did you buy & £. I wander if Halse had old stock at the time.

 

[Chuckie]

The things you use the least seem to be the biggest waste of money…like a combine for 300k that gets used for 2 weeks or a baler that is used for a month for 30/40k
Most straw choppers will be used every day for 6 months

Mine is used every day of the year, managing without it would be a real struggle without employing someone else.

 

[sidjon]

What machine did you buy & £. I wander if Halse had old stock at the time.

Yep, c470, was in stock and AS wouldn't have one until January, can remember the exact price as old boy purchased it, cause he uses most of the time

 

[Pistonbroke]

Never touched the filter in 12 winters of work(150t straw and 1000+ bales haylage a year). Tractor filters and oil changes by the book, and careful to keep probes clean though

Had to replace the remote switches a couple of times, but not likely they've both gone at the same time? Usually know they're going because it takes a couple of clicks before they work.
What about the "safety" push button switch? I'd test it first, only 4 screws to take off the cover.

Bought this one second hand last year 2015 model so don't know how well it was looked after. Not even a photo of the filter in the book so I don't know what you're supposed to do,change as routine or if things slow down? No power getting to the safety button so something has come undone. Nothing serious

 

[cattleman123]

Not really the question i know...but theres only one that withstand the pressure...Lucas Raptor...blown everything through mine...great machine in my eyes unbeatable...mate changed to a Mcchale and now wished he never did...are Lucases hard to get now as Halse is promoting the Mcchales more...Yes its Lucas for me

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I wouldn't rule out Lucas either. It's worth speaking to Philip Halse, he sells the McHale and Lucas and will tell you the weak and strong points on both.

I've just swapped a castor 60 for an 80+. It has two beaters at the front and having used it for a month I wouldn't want to go back to a single beater machine. I put 4 quadrants in a load at the moment and it will easily spit them out in a couple of minutes.

 

[cattleman123]

I wouldn't rule out Lucas either. It's worth speaking to Philip Halse, he sells the McHale and Lucas and will tell you the weak and strong points on both.

I've just swapped a castor 60 for an 80+. It has two beaters at the front and having used it for a month I wouldn't want to go back to a single beater machine. I put 4 quadrants in a load at the moment and it will easily spit them out in a couple of minutes.

The Lucas has that slip clutch on the bed...not sure if the others do my mate has a Mcchale and because there is not the same potection ....his words...he broke a slat and caused 4ks worth of damage to a 5 month old machine...he said why did i change

 

[sidjon]

The Lucas has that slip clutch on the bed...not sure if the others do my mate has a Mcchale and because there is not the same potection ....his words...he broke a slat and caused 4ks worth of damage to a 5 month old machine...he said why did i change

Mate put slat thought a month old lucas and totalled it , in the spring

 

[Enry]

Having resisted buying a straw chopper for many years I can tell you that £14k is an absolute bargain for the work saved. I have been reflecting on how mean and stupid I was not to buy one before.
Has anyone who manually beds cattle ever regretted buying one?

Bedding youngstock sheds we reckoned we saved 20% straw and did a better job. Putting tge right amount in each pen vs a bale per pen was key change. Older ones needed more and youngsters less, but 3 x week bedding day meant they all got a bale. Chopper/blower used 4 bales not 5.

 

[Dchappy]

Hi guys I have got a question I feed roughly 500 round silage and ever winter it’s the same 3rd cut the cows waste a little bit and when I get to second cut the waste is 1/4 ever bale and now I just have had enough I can’t justify buying a baler with knifes cause I will need to upgrade my tractor to coup with the baler and was speaking to an engineer who is now a sales man and he said that bale choppers/shredder are ok for small numbers of silage bales and said a tube mixer are built for the job
Any help would be appreciated David

 

[DrDunc]

Hi guys I have got a question I feed roughly 500 round silage and ever winter it’s the same 3rd cut the cows waste a little bit and when I get to second cut the waste is 1/4 ever bale and now I just have had enough I can’t justify buying a baler with knifes cause I will need to upgrade my tractor to coup with the baler and was speaking to an engineer who is now a sales man and he said that bale choppers/shredder are ok for small numbers of silage bales and said a tube mixer are built for the job
Any help would be appreciated David

First question; how do you currently feed them if they're able to waste so much of a bale? (Or are you silage bales shyte?

Second question; how many are you feeding?

Salesman wants to sell you a tub mixer, that doesn't mean it's the best tool for the job. Depends very much in your system and the livestock. Used to feed 100 cows and followers here with the straw blower (no waste!). Changed to a bale unwinder (looked at mixers first) Unwinder is faster and much less diesel than either machine, and it's perfect for hill cows. Straw blower now "retired" to easy life just bedding

 

[Nithsdale]

Hi guys I have got a question I feed roughly 500 round silage and ever winter it’s the same 3rd cut the cows waste a little bit and when I get to second cut the waste is 1/4 ever bale and now I just have had enough I can’t justify buying a baler with knifes cause I will need to upgrade my tractor to coup with the baler and was speaking to an engineer who is now a sales man and he said that bale choppers/shredder are ok for small numbers of silage bales and said a tube mixer are built for the job
Any help would be appreciated David

Your mechanic/salesman is talking out his arse and wants to sell you a tub mixer. But if your bales are unchopped, a tub mixer is about the worst machine you could buy IMO.

A silage/straw blower will chope unchopped bales - but you need to keep the knives in top condition (sharpening them regularly) and it's a lot slower than with chopped bales.

What size is your current tractor? And what's your current baler?

 

[Nithsdale]

First question; how do you currently feed them if they're able to waste so much of a bale? (Or are you silage bales shyte?

Second question; how many are you feeding?

Salesman wants to sell you a tub mixer, that doesn't mean it's the best tool for the job. Depends very much in your system and the livestock. Used to feed 100 cows and followers here with the straw blower (no waste!). Changed to a bale unwinder (looked at mixers first) Unwinder is faster and much less diesel than either machine, and it's perfect for hill cows. Straw blower now "retired" to easy life just bedding

Would a bale unwinder "throw" the silage into a feed barrier like this?

The top of the wooden batten is just below knee height, concrete panel is at 45° angle sloping down into the barrier.


We wondered about an unwinder before buying the chopper/blower but couldn't get a demo and any videos we looked all seem to drop the silage just at the tractor wheel so we didn't think they would suit us. But as you say, much easier and cheaper to run (diesel) if one would have done the job.

 

[HarryB97]

Would a bale unwinder "throw" the silage into a feed barrier like this?
View attachment 1090335
The top of the wooden batten is just below knee height, concrete panel is at 45° angle sloping down into the barrier.


We wondered about an unwinder before buying the chopper/blower but couldn't get a demo and any videos we looked all seem to drop the silage just at the tractor wheel so we didn't think they would suit us. But as you say, much easier and cheaper to run (diesel) if one would have done the job.

A bale unroller would work but you would have to mount it on a frame to offset it, or shunt forwards and back on an angle like I do.

 

[Welderloon]

If you fit the unroller on a telehandler it should be no issue & will use a fraction of the fuel, the difference will be the bales are only unrolled & not teased out nice & fluffy like the Bedder does it.
I think the cattle like unchopped silage through a bedder, they eat, lie down & cud then go back & eat some more & seem to be dryer & quieter, whereas chopped bale or pit silage they hoover it up & skitter like a fountain & are always roaring for the feeder.

 

[Wesley]

Would a bale unwinder "throw" the silage into a feed barrier like this?
View attachment 1090335
The top of the wooden batten is just below knee height, concrete panel is at 45° angle sloping down into the barrier.


We wondered about an unwinder before buying the chopper/blower but couldn't get a demo and any videos we looked all seem to drop the silage just at the tractor wheel so we didn't think they would suit us. But as you say, much easier and cheaper to run (diesel) if one would have done the job.

Would you be able to fit a chute/deflector on the side to get it to feed it far enough out? Or failing that it looks like they do these…although it got chain & slats. But still simpler than a blower

 

[DrDunc]

Would you be able to fit a chute/deflector on the side to get it to feed it far enough out? Or failing that it looks like they do these…although it got chain & slats. But still simpler than a blower View attachment 1090357

@Nithsdale Farmer this conveyor on the unroller is exactly how my next door neighbour feeds into their shed passage troughs

The unroller I have just drops at the tractor wheel, but it's perfect for my sheds, and you have the advantage of discharging to either side (Hay unrolls much easier going the "correct," rotation)

It'll feed out everything from hay/straw, to fairly wet chopped silage, but doesn't like really "squished" misshapen ones

As already said, much less fuel than blower, faster, and you only need one tractor to load and feed. My loader tractor only gets fired if I'm loading squares into the blower, or feeling lazy and don't push the rounds into it!

 

[Dchappy]

Would a bale unwinder "throw" the silage into a feed barrier like this?
View attachment 1090335
The top of the wooden batten is just below knee height, concrete panel is at 45° angle sloping down into the barrier.


We wondered about an unwinder before buying the chopper/blower but couldn't get a demo and any videos we looked all seem to drop the silage just at the tractor wheel so we didn't think they would suit us. But as you say, much easier and cheaper to run (diesel) if one would have done the job.

Yes no problem as it has a small extension fitted

 

[Dchappy]

Your mechanic/salesman is talking out his arse and wants to sell you a tub mixer. But if your bales are unchopped, a tub mixer is about the worst machine you could buy IMO.

A silage/straw blower will chope unchopped bales - but you need to keep the knives in top condition (sharpening them regularly) and it's a lot slower than with chopped bales.

What size is your current tractor? And what's your current baler?

I have a deuzt agro farm 430 which is 110hp and I run a welgar rp220
As for the waste I need to do something cause the knock on affect is also causing problems going into the dung and then spreading onto my grass land

 

[DrDunc]

I have a deuzt agro farm 430 which is 110hp and I run a welgar rp220
As for the waste I need to do something cause the knock on affect is also causing problems going into the dung and then spreading onto my grass land

Chopped and baled with a bit more moisture will prevent way less waste than burning diesel on a tub mixer