Diet Feeders

tripperman

Hi folks,
I'm looking for advice on diet feeders, we are thinking of getting one for next winter or the following one,

Reason for the vagueness in year, is also planning on building a new bedded shed for dry cow's, so want to plan the shed with a feeder in mind. Don't want to find in 12 months we left the feed passage to low or narrow to feed on the second side when we would build on to it in time,

We have about 70/80 dairy cow's and replacements, we also feed 60/70 beef weanlings and a few heifers fatting also, we make and feed all round bales currently, we plan to go pit silage for the first cut and stay with bales for the second cut but that may be a few year's away, as you can imagine with stock numbers feeding takes quite a bit of time and labour each day, I'm hoping with a feeder in place to feed more improved diets to help improve production and save wastage of feed,

Sheds currently one is grant spec dairy shed with good height clearance and wide feed passage for feeding one side, the second shed is an old teagsc design from the 80s it's feed outside no roof over the feed passage, but the feed is placed on the ground and and lids that open over it, shed is 110 feet long so nice length for a feeder, but getting feed under lids is the thing, last shed is a loose bed shed for dry cows, overhanging on feed passage is about 14/15 foot with a mass concrete wall at one end at the feeding barrier, it would need to be fed on the right hand side,

Hoping our 120 hp John Deere is more than sufficient for a feeder, we have a farm loadall teleporter with a grab and bucket, so it should be set for loading,

Any advice is greatly appreciated, wether the experience was good or bad all is welcome, as we have no knowledge or experience of these machines, we need to know what we are getting into, so brand's and different type's of feeders are all new, the spec and requirements we would require we need to learn about, we wanted to get advice from people who know about them and use them or have used them, not a salesman talking just trying to get a quick sale.

All that I have been told so far while getting my tractor serviced, I was looking at a second hand Keenan in the yard and the mechanic told me to keep away from them, as there not good with bale silage and to get a reduction gearbox saves wear on the tractor and feeder, would that be true?

Timmaay

tripperman wrote: »

We have about 70/80 dairy cow's and replacements, we also feed 60/70 beef weanlings and a few heifers fatting also, we make and feed all round bales currently, we plan to go pit silage for the first cut and stay with bales for the second cut but that may be a few year's away, as you can imagine with stock numbers feeding takes quite a bit of time and labour each day, I'm hoping with a feeder in place to feed more improved diets to help improve production and save wastage of feed,

Will having a diet feeder actually reduce labour however? If anything I would say it will increase the time, because you will now need to load the diet feeder, mix it and then load out. You are hoping to feed a better diet, to improve production and reduce waste, what is your current production? When the diet feeder and more expensive diet is costed out, will the extra production be still worth while? (chasing marginal gains?). Finally how much wastage now?, and why, and again how will the diet feeder improve this?

I'm not trying to completely rule out a diet feeder for you, however I did look at one before here, awkward narrow feed passage, liquid milk, room for extra yield etc, however it would certainly not have made my system any easier, instead would of increased the time spent feeding, and tied me down to the farm more (against getting the relief milker to lob in afew grabs if I'm away), instead I've gone the opposite direction, more towards spring only milk, basic but good diet (high dmd bales and maize for milkers, with protein balanced in parlour), alongside more feed space (which this year was simply 2 extra ring feeders during Nov for all milkers to get access to maize).

Mooooo

What will you be feeding thru it? If straights and different forages it'll help but if it's just silage and ration I would invest in feed space instead. Have a Keenan here and it doesn't like bales. Tubs would be better in that regard. Design your shed with a big enough passage anyway. Time wise I think it's faster to grab straight in out of the pit than make a mix. Our feeder is on its last legs and likely won't be replacing

mahoney_j

tripperman wrote: »

Hi folks,
I'm looking for advice on diet feeders, we are thinking of getting one for next winter or the following one,

Reason for the vagueness in year, is also planning on building a new bedded shed for dry cow's, so want to plan the shed with a feeder in mind. Don't want to find in 12 months we left the feed passage to low or narrow to feed on the second side when we would build on to it in time,

We have about 70/80 dairy cow's and replacements, we also feed 60/70 beef weanlings and a few heifers fatting also, we make and feed all round bales currently, we plan to go pit silage for the first cut and stay with bales for the second cut but that may be a few year's away, as you can imagine with stock numbers feeding takes quite a bit of time and labour each day, I'm hoping with a feeder in place to feed more improved diets to help improve production and save wastage of feed,

Sheds currently one is grant spec dairy shed with good height clearance and wide feed passage for feeding one side, the second shed is an old teagsc design from the 80s it's feed outside no roof over the feed passage, but the feed is placed on the ground and and lids that open over it, shed is 110 feet long so nice length for a feeder, but getting feed under lids is the thing, last shed is a loose bed shed for dry cows, overhanging on feed passage is about 14/15 foot with a mass concrete wall at one end at the feeding barrier, it would need to be fed on the right hand side,

Hoping our 120 hp John Deere is more than sufficient for a feeder, we have a farm loadall teleporter with a grab and bucket, so it should be set for loading,

Any advice is greatly appreciated, wether the experience was good or bad all is welcome, as we have no knowledge or experience of these machines, we need to know what we are getting into, so brand's and different type's of feeders are all new, the spec and requirements we would require we need to learn about, we wanted to get advice from people who know about them and use them or have used them, not a salesman talking just trying to get a quick sale.

All that I have been told so far while getting my tractor serviced, I was looking at a second hand Keenan in the yard and the mechanic told me to keep away from them, as there not good with bale silage and to get a reduction gearbox saves wear on the tractor and feeder, would that be true?

After reading your post I’ve just came to the conclusion u have no need for a diet feeder .why complicate things by adding unsesecary machinery that in all likelihood will add time and expense to your feeding

larthehar

Have you a bale shear? That would speed up bale feeding.. also going to pit you can put a big grab on the JCB..

IH784man

A bale unwinder might suit better