Sheep Snacker

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Has any one worn their hoppers out? Ours is rizla paper thin by now and has been patched numerous times in recent years. Eats wheel bearings aswell! Wouldn’t like to think how many tonnes gone through it but saying that we won’t exceed twenty tonnes per year and a lot of that will go in shed!!


What make is it?


My one is dated 2003. The bushes for the swivel hitch are quite worn, and the wheels are a bit wobbly on the axle but it's sound otherwise - plastic/fiberglass hopper still as good as the day it was new I'd say. No idea how much feed the previous owner would put through it, but it's well used
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
I bought a Port Agri drum type secondhand about three years ago. I would only put about three or four tonnes a year through it but for £250 it's up there with my best buys.

That'll be the same as mine? Blue metal with a yellow plastic hopper? Very good snacker IMO, better built that the Portequip. £250 a bargain (y) I went to £360 for my one.
 
That'll be the same as mine? Blue metal with a yellow plastic hopper? Very good snacker IMO, better built that the Portequip. £250 a bargain (y) I went to £360 for my one.
Yes, that's the one. Got it locally from a place that had gone out of sheep, along with a few other bits and pieces very reasonably. The lamb warming box for £50 was another bargain (y)
 

Mur Huwcun

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North West Wales
What make is it?


My one is dated 2003. The bushes for the swivel hitch are quite worn, and the wheels are a bit wobbly on the axle but it's sound otherwise - plastic/fiberglass hopper still as good as the day it was new I'd say. No idea how much feed the previous owner would put through it, but it's well used

It’s a localy ish made version of the rotafeed badged as ewe-feeder. Bought new around 12-15yrs ago. Not knocking the machine at all but it’s surprising how much the metal has worn inside the hopper to become so thin now.
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
It’s a localy ish made version of the rotafeed badged as ewe-feeder. Bought new around 12-15yrs ago. Not knocking the machine at all but it’s surprising how much the metal has worn inside the hopper to become so thin now.
Easy enough to weld or rivet I would have thought, I cut up some old diesel tanks (4mm thick) and lined wear points on a dryer conveyor as it brand new parts would wear through in under 1/2 a season, some were welded, other parts bolted and others riveted depending on wear the wear would be most..
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
It’s a localy ish made version of the rotafeed badged as ewe-feeder. Bought new around 12-15yrs ago. Not knocking the machine at all but it’s surprising how much the metal has worn inside the hopper to become so thin now.

That'll be the biggest issue with the metal ones, they WILL wear out eventually - just same as a grain trailer floor or a tub mixer...
If you've put that much feed through it, you'll can justify a new one when the time comes
 

gibson115

Member
Bought a swaledale drum type snacker 2 years ago to feed blackface ewes on hill after spilt meal on quad attracted mice that caused 800pounds worth of damage.They were traditonally trough fed.I wouldnt be without it.We can feed them out the back of the hill where the grass is rougher and use it as a grazing management tool too.It was only has a pull over cover but i just throw licks in on top of the feed. Also has large dumper tread wheels which make it very stable and good in a wet place. Was so impressed with the build quality we bought a swale dale quad trailer with twin axle and dividing pens. Both were expensive but the build quality should ensure my 16month old boy will be using them when he is my age!!
 

gibson115

Member
Some pictures of the Swaledale Engineering snacker and trailer. The mudguards on the snacker are strong enough for me to stand on to count ewes as they come to me and I am no light weight! Buy something once and buy the best you can afford. Will last you longer and better resale value. Learnt this after buying numerous quad trailers that needed wheel bearings and a run with the welder after 3 or 4 years use. Also snacker comes with fully greasable bearings in axle and on the swivel hitch.
20180402_111131.jpg
Snapchat-1227707605.jpg
 

Downton_shep

Member
Location
Leintwardine
Some pictures of the Swaledale Engineering snacker and trailer. The mudguards on the snacker are strong enough for me to stand on to count ewes as they come to me and I am no light weight! Buy something once and buy the best you can afford. Will last you longer and better resale value. Learnt this after buying numerous quad trailers that needed wheel bearings and a run with the welder after 3 or 4 years use. Also snacker comes with fully greasable bearings in axle and on the swivel hitch.View attachment 767022View attachment 767024
Nice looking trailer!
 

ajcc

Member
Livestock Farmer
Always carry a bucket in mine for the fairly frequent malfunction....bucket and chuck it stood by a stacker is easier than running the gauntlet with bags.
Chucked the logic electrics over the hedge 10 years ago. pull bit of rope but spring is strong so often just drive to sheep and bucket rolls amongst them.(only 200 in bunch.)
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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    Votes: 6 3.2%

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

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As reported in Independent


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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