Mower for dairy

RJ1

Member
Location
Wales
Evening

Just wondering about buying a mower and would prefer other dairy farmers' input rather than post in machinery.

Would be used for pre-mowing, mowing surplus paddocks for bales and maybe pit silage along with contractor probably (1st cut and a later bulkier cut).

Would you go for a plain mower or with a conditioner?

Tractor would be 125hp.

Thanks
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
I'd go conditioner but if its mostly used for topping/premowing and you ted out silage a straight mower would probably work.
I've seen more contractors going down the straight mower route, what does yours use?


Oh and I'm not a dairy farmer, sorry :sorry:
 

DairyGrazing

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
North West
Evening

Just wondering about buying a mower and would prefer other dairy farmers' input rather than post in machinery.

Would be used for pre-mowing, mowing surplus paddocks for bales and maybe pit silage along with contractor probably (1st cut and a later bulkier cut).

Would you go for a plain mower or with a conditioner?

Tractor would be 125hp.

Thanks

Do all of the above with this kuhn. Mower conditioners are a con.

Kuhn GMD 800 GII Specifications & Technical Data (2010-2014) | LECTURA Specs


Kuhn GMD 800 GII Specifications
 

pappuller

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
M6 Hard shoulder
Evening

Just wondering about buying a mower and would prefer other dairy farmers' input rather than post in machinery.

Would be used for pre-mowing, mowing surplus paddocks for bales and maybe pit silage along with contractor probably (1st cut and a later bulkier cut).

Would you go for a plain mower or with a conditioner?

Tractor would be 125hp.

Thanks
@jimmer has fair knowledge of mowers for such tasks.
 

RJ1

Member
Location
Wales
I'd go conditioner but if its mostly used for topping/premowing and you ted out silage a straight mower would probably work.
I've seen more contractors going down the straight mower route, what does yours use?


Oh and I'm not a dairy farmer, sorry :sorry:

Contractors around here all use conditioner as far as I can see but it's virtually all big July cuts for sucklers and sheep with little tedding.

As a convert, I'm just wondering what's people's experiences with leafier but lighter crops and the mix of work I have for it. Diesel also more of a consideration than it used to be!


Malone look good to me.

Yes, look like good straightforward mowers 👍
 

Horn&corn

Member
Next time we’ll get a demo of a non conditioner rear to try alongside front mower to see if any differences. Cow paddocks tend to be rough on mowers so I’d prefer the lighter plain disc to ride over ground better.
 
Conditioners make little to no difference to the rate of drying of the grass. We use both and the grass is just the same regardless of which one we use.

Non conditioned grass is driven on immediate after mowing and can be more difficult to pick up with tedders and rakes, and you will always have to drive on top of grass with a tedder and rake which isn't ideal in wetter conditions.

With a straight mower you also surrender your ability to collect grass without raking it
 
Last edited:

Farmer Keith

Member
Location
North Cumbria
If you’re planning on pre mowing with it a conditioner is out of the question. You need to cut as low as you can and the conditioner just soils the grass. I have one of each, we can cut 100 acres of silage a day with both going and not have to start until mid morning. Think we’ll just get a second plain one when the conditioner one dies.
 

RJ1

Member
Location
Wales
If you’re planning on pre mowing with it a conditioner is out of the question. You need to cut as low as you can and the conditioner just soils the grass. I have one of each, we can cut 100 acres of silage a day with both going and not have to start until mid morning. Think we’ll just get a second plain one when the conditioner one dies.

Do you ted first cut or find the need to do it with the plain but not the conditioner?
 

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
If you’re planning on pre mowing with it a conditioner is out of the question. You need to cut as low as you can and the conditioner just soils the grass. I have one of each, we can cut 100 acres of silage a day with both going and not have to start until mid morning. Think we’ll just get a second plain one when the conditioner one dies.

So the question is...
Does the workrate advantage of a straight mower out weight the "quicker" wilt of a conditioner mower.
 
On brand, how many contractors do you see not running Claas mowers?

I have an old Claas dicso 3050 plain mower. I bought it second hand and it's suffered thousands of acres of abuse here. It cuts some huge silage crops destined for the dry cow clamp and probably does 4-500 acres pre mowing each year. Today it is cutting docks, thistles and rushes on undulating pp parkland. When we finally kill it I'll look to replace it with an identical one.
 

Martyn

Member
Location
South west
On brand, how many contractors do you see not running Claas mowers?

I have an old Claas dicso 3050 plain mower. I bought it second hand and it's suffered thousands of acres of abuse here. It cuts some huge silage crops destined for the dry cow clamp and probably does 4-500 acres pre mowing each year. Today it is cutting docks, thistles and rushes on undulating pp parkland. When we finally kill it I'll look to replace it with an identical one.
Kuhn or Claas all around us, I'll replace our Kuhn at some point with a class as I hate pulling of main road with endless near misses with cars!
 

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
On brand, how many contractors do you see not running Claas mowers?

I have an old Claas dicso 3050 plain mower. I bought it second hand and it's suffered thousands of acres of abuse here. It cuts some huge silage crops destined for the dry cow clamp and probably does 4-500 acres pre mowing each year. Today it is cutting docks, thistles and rushes on undulating pp parkland. When we finally kill it I'll look to replace it with an identical one.
One had lely(probably now vicon as dealer switched to that brand) one with pottinger I can think of,both triples
 

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