Which meal bin?

Siamsa Sessions · 30-10-2019 7:48pm #1

I’m fed up of paying for and horsing small bags in and out of the car trailer so was thinking about getting a small meal bin.

I Googled it, and there seems to be a world of options. So, I thought I’d ask and see what others might recommend?

1-2 ton would probably do. Something self-standing and not needing to be set in concrete would be great. It’d be cubes rather than loose ration that’ll go in it. Don’t know if that matters.

All suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

Sacrolyte · 30-10-2019 7:52pm

Min delivery usually about 3 ton here

tanko · 30-10-2019 8:00pm

Have a couple of JFC tonne bins here, think they're a great job (apart from the crap rubber handles which fall apart every couple of years).

Lime Tree Farm · 30-10-2019 8:01pm

https://www.vmacsilos.ie/products?id=27:enlosed-v-mac-silo&catid=3

Have no complaints with this, and very handy storage space included. Our one is bolted onto a raised concrete platform

Say my name · 30-10-2019 8:04pm

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

I’m fed up of paying for and horsing small bags in and out of the car trailer so was thinking about getting a small meal bin.

I Googled it, and there seems to be a world of options. So, I thought I’d ask and see what others might recommend?

1-2 ton would probably do. Something self-standing and not needing to be set in concrete would be great. It’d be cubes rather than loose ration that’ll go in it. Don’t know if that matters.

All suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

If you're thinking that small...go with a jfc cubic meter bin. You can get as many as you want. It'll hold nearly 800kg's in pelleted meal and you can put it beside where you feed the stock.

As posted above 3 ton is the lowest quantity delivered with some saying it's 5 ton.

If you have a way of lifting the bin, it's a no brainer.
Most agri merchants have facilities to fill your jfc bin.

Mooooo · 30-10-2019 8:39pm

Have a 4 ton bin here on longer legs where the spout comes out at an angle from under the bin so I can empty it indo a loader bucket or root chopper/ auger bucket. Got it from Crowleys, got a 12 tonne the same way at the same time. Annoyed I didn't get two bigger ones as there wouldn't have been much in the price. Most bins are bolted to a concrete base. Will you be feeding in the shed or at grass as well. If at grass perhaps the jfc ones may be handier as you bring it out to the field then. Hartnett make a toke bin in trailer form think it'll hold a tonne but looks like it would be a tad top heavy when full.

Bass Reeves · 30-10-2019 9:44pm

I be against JFC cubic meter bins. First off you will need to store the and all nuts/ration will need to be scooped out of the bin. You be as well of staying with bags and getting a pallet delivered to a secure shed.

Smallest bins are usually described as 4 or 5 ton bins. there would be little difference in price in getting a smaller bin. If you are putting nuts/cubes in it should never get blocked. Some mills will deliver as low as 2 ton if you are near them but generally 3 ton is the lest they like to deliver.

Just go away and price the smallest bin off a number of lads that make them. Vat is reclaimable. All you need is a base 8-10'' deep. I make it slightly longer on the side where the spout is directed so you can park a barrow underneath it. But you only need 3'' of concrete under this part. The spout should be at a height where you can fill a bucket comfortably. Try and get a low stubby bin as opposed to a high narrow bin as if you ever have to clean it the lower the top of the bin is the better. Place it in a good sunny position in the yard if possible. After that any bin will more than likely outlast you.

Below is the list of acceptable ones for Tams it just handy to get a list of them

https://www.agriculturalconsultant.net/farmers-corner/item/accepted-meal-bins-and-grain-silos-under-tams-grants

Who2 · 30-10-2019 10:38pm

I’d second the stationary bin. You mightn’t go through a whole pile but it’s by far the best job. There’s very little difference in price of a 4 or 6 ton and all I can advise is go bigger you’d be surprised the time you waste in a co op collecting and feeding out of bulk bags.

Siamsa Sessions · 30-10-2019 10:42pm

Thanks folks.

I’ll ring a few merchants tomorrow and see if they’d deliver 2 ton and the difference in price between bulk and small bags.

I wouldn’t be feeding more than 4 ton a year between calves/weanlings and sheep before lambing so I should be able to work out from there how long it’ll take for a bin to pay for itself, once VAT and possibly 40% from TAMS is factored in.

If it works out cost-wise, I’ll drive on and save the hassle and my back.

Thanks again

hopeso · 30-10-2019 11:07pm

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Thanks folks.

I’ll ring a few merchants tomorrow and see if they’d deliver 2 ton and the difference in price between bulk and small bags.

I wouldn’t be feeding more than 4 ton a year between calves/weanlings and sheep before lambing so I should be able to work out from there how long it’ll take for a bin to pay for itself, once VAT and possibly 40% from TAMS is factored in.

If it works out cost-wise, I’ll drive on and save the hassle and my back.

Thanks again

For that quantity I'd be going with the JFC plastic bin. They hold around 800kg of nuts, but if you bring it to the merchant on a trailer or bale lifter every week or two they will put as little or as much as you want into it, meaning you'll have fresh feed all the time. Even if you get as little as 2 ton delivered, it's going to take you a few months to get through it.

31-10-2019 12:19am

Still pulling, hauling and mullicking if you have a meal bin.
Be worth doing a few costing before forking out.

The bags are handy at those sort of quantities
Having them stored at waist height makes handling much easier.
Hardship picking up from ground level

K.G. · 31-10-2019 12:51am

For what your talking go jfc.we have it beside through and its no bother to feed anything- no humping bags or bucket in to jeeps over gates across feilds.fits on bale handler so bother to move.we fill ours from bin in yard thats holds 2.5 to 3 ton and it takes 650 700 kilos which does calves over 3 weeks.

Bass Reeves · 31-10-2019 12:54am

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Thanks folks.

I’ll ring a few merchants tomorrow and see if they’d deliver 2 ton and the difference in price between bulk and small bags.

I wouldn’t be feeding more than 4 ton a year between calves/weanlings and sheep before lambing so I should be able to work out from there how long it’ll take for a bin to pay for itself, once VAT and possibly 40% from TAMS is factored in.

If it works out cost-wise, I’ll drive on and save the hassle and my back.

Thanks again

I stick with bags and get a mixed pallet delivered at the time. A pallet is 1.75T but a lot of miller's will let 1.5 T delivery for same price.

After Tams and Vat I think the bin will cost about 1k. Saving 40/ ton it's a 7 year payback. It all depends on how.near a miller as opposed to a co-op is. I used to collect a half ton of barley at the time from a co-op but it was a pain.
lf any business cannot sustain reasonable costs forget about it

ganmo · 31-10-2019 2:31pm

Theres another option that hasn't been mentioned, tonne bags. Many mills will deliver them or you can get one filled at the merchant.

Siamsa Sessions · 31-10-2019 5:47pm

ganmo wrote: »

Theres another option that hasn't been mentioned, tonne bags. Many mills will deliver them or you can get one filled at the merchant.

Might check that option too. Biggest issue here is that not many local merchants have sheep meal (or sheep supplies in general) as I’m in a big dairy area. Used to be beef and dairy a few years back but mostly dairy now

Durrus Boy · 31-10-2019 6:15pm

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

I’m fed up of paying for and horsing small bags in and out of the car trailer so was thinking about getting a small meal bin.

I Googled it, and there seems to be a world of options. So, I thought I’d ask and see what others might recommend?

1-2 ton would probably do. Something self-standing and not needing to be set in concrete would be great. It’d be cubes rather than loose ration that’ll go in it. Don’t know if that matters.

All suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

We use a number of IBC's with the top cut off for feeding small groups of cattle. Have heavy duty covers attached with bungee cords to the cage to keep the rain out. It's easily filled from our 10 tonne bin in the yard. You can move them with a bale handler or pallet forks on loader or sit them on another pallet. You just need to decide how suitable it's in your case as you will be going to the mill/ merchant. Low cost option in a high cost business!!!!

thefareast · 01-11-2019 2:32pm

We use barrels, the blue plastic ones with lids. You can pick them up cheap enough on done deal, I got them free from someone in catering, they were originally used for food deliveries, so a good wash and they were good to go.

I can't remember the size off hand but they are fierce handy as we have cattle and sheep and would have different meals going. Stick them on the trailer empty and filled in the merchants then rolled off wherever they are wanted. Easy to keep clean, waterproof, verminproof, stackable and if you only need a few bags a lot cheaper than a bin.

Muckit · 01-11-2019 4:03pm

Wheely bins are another good one. I had 5 at one stay hold 800kg of nuts

Welding Rod · 01-11-2019 8:13pm

I had about 10 steel 40 gal drums with those clip on covers, on the go for about 15 years. Used to bring home a trailer of bags, and tip into the barrels. Rusted badly in the end, so splashed out on a plastic JFC.
Grand job, except for those fiddly rubber hinge things on the cover. Damn cover comes out of its hinge four times out of five when you open it. Can’t believe they haven’t that sorted, given the number of years they have these on the market.
Made up a little steel plate, which I’m going to screw onto the cover tomorrow. I expect they will prevent the cover coming off the hinges.

Cavanjack · 01-11-2019 9:26pm

Welding Rod wrote: »

I had about 10 steel 40 gal drums with those clip on covers, on the go for about 15 years. Used to bring home a trailer of bags, and tip into the barrels. Rusted badly in the end, so splashed out on a plastic JFC.
Grand job, except for those fiddly rubber hinge things on the cover. Damn cover comes out of its hinge four times out of five when you open it. Can’t believe they haven’t that sorted, given the number of years they have these on the market.
Made up a little steel plate, which I’m going to screw onto the cover tomorrow. I expect they will prevent the cover coming off the hinges.

Is it hard to empty the meal out the bottom of these jfc box’s?

mayota · 01-11-2019 11:17pm

Cavanjack wrote: »

Is it hard to empty the meal out the bottom of these jfc box’s?

Very easy. Let it over on its side.

Homer jay · 02-11-2019 12:25am

Did anyone get a price on a 4 or 5 ton stationary meal bin lately ?

SuperTortoise · 02-11-2019 8:51pm

Have a JFC old style (tall) tub, and a kingspan? tub, the lid on the kingspan one is a disaster, pain to close it right when bin is full as the top of the tub stretches slightly, lids are spot on on the JFC bin but is a pain to get meal out of it if below half empty.
They are handy mind.

hopeso · 02-11-2019 9:42pm

SuperTortoise wrote: »

Have a JFC old style (tall) tub, and a kingspan? tub, the lid on the kingspan one is a disaster, pain to close it right when bin is full as the top of the tub stretches slightly, lids are spot on on the JFC bin but is a pain to get meal out of it if below half empty.
They are handy mind.

Use a 6' block or something similar as a step in front of the bin...You'll reach all the way down no bother then. Tilt it over when it gets light to scoop out the last bucket full........or get one of these... http://mealriser.ie

Bass Reeves · 02-11-2019 10:04pm

Wheelie bins and barrels are grand if you are only half a ton of ration at the time and it lasts two weeks, JFC bins either are little better and when you factor in there cost if you are getting two or three you are a long way towards a stationary bin.
Collecting loose ration in barrel's or bins from a mill or merchant is time consuming and savings minimal. Grad if you are not more than 4-5 miles from merchant or cop. Savings over buying in bags are minimal if you are any good to bargain but for bags you need a vermin proof store. If you are handling more than 8-10 ton a year I be looking at a stationary bin. I say with Tams you have such a 5 ton bin for about 1K.

kk.man · 02-11-2019 11:03pm

hopeso wrote: »

Use a 6' block or something similar as a step in front of the bin...You'll reach all the way down no bother then. Tilt it over when it gets light to scoop out the last bucket full........or get one of these... http://mealriser.ie

Wow... I have 2 jfc bins.. How much are the meal risers?

cute geoge · 02-11-2019 11:24pm

kk.man wrote: »

Wow... I have 2 jfc bins.. How much are the meal risers?

Isn't there some really some talented lads to come up with such a simple solution to a back breaking chore

Bass Reeves · 03-11-2019 12:00am

cute geoge wrote: »

Isn't there some really some talented lads to come up with such a simple solution to a back breaking chore

There is it called a stationary bin but you must get 3-4 ton delivered at the time. There is even 1 ton ones on stilts that you can get filled but you need a good tractor to load unload from the trailer.

Timmaay · 03-11-2019 9:55am

What roughly is the saving of having nuts blown in over say ton bags delivered? I'm working out I use at most 8tons/yr of calf nuts, a bin would save labour on the ton bags, and if needed it could be used for likes of soyahulls etc.

mr.stonewall · 03-11-2019 10:45am

Made up an ibc bin. Cut the top ring off it so as not to have to bend and fall into it and put 2 plywood hinged lids on it.vermin proof and just leave into shed. Great for calf ration and a bit of soya bean meal in the winter. . Holds 500kg of nuts and 400kg ration. Big saving on bags and time over the year on just calves.
Lifted on off the pick up with the loader.
Also have 2 big bins for ration aswell and swear buy them
Will post picture later

Bleating Lamb · 03-11-2019 11:59am

Is there a finishing date on when you could apply for TAMS grant for a meal bin?

davidk1394 · 03-11-2019 12:08pm

Could you buy meal in 1 tonne bags by any chance ?

Say my name · 03-11-2019 12:38pm

hopeso wrote: »

Use a 6' block or something similar as a step in front of the bin...You'll reach all the way down no bother then. Tilt it over when it gets light to scoop out the last bucket full........or get one of these... http://mealriser.ie

The square jfc bins are a revelation.
The top of the bin is waist height (well for me anyway).

If anyone has problems bending down into those tall ones. My advice would be forget about the riser and sell on your bin and buy the square one instead.

I've two of them and they've simply been one of the best buys on the farm.
The weanlings here get a bucket and a half of meal at grass here currently and I've the bin with the meal and buckets inside just across the wire from the paddock and trough.
No matter with that riser with the shape of the profile in the bottom of the bin you'll still have to turn it over on it's side to get the very last bit out. I have a saucepan for that job to put into the bucket.

orm0nd · 03-11-2019 1:46pm

old mobile milk tank preferably 1 with detachable lid, a 150 to 180 gallon would carry 600 to 800 kgs

I've seen small refigrated bulk tanks on trailers or mounted on their own custom made chassis at the local mill

tanko · 03-11-2019 1:49pm

davidk1394 wrote: »

Could you buy meal in 1 tonne bags by any chance ?

All the coop stores around here sell and deliver meal in one tonne bags.
They have small lorries with a crane to lift them off or a forklift on bigger lorries.
Would only be buying small amounts of nuts/ration here. The crane lifts the tonne bag over the JFC bin , open the bottom of the bag, 800kgs of nuts or 600kgs of ration into bin, job done.

wrangler · 03-11-2019 6:22pm

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Might check that option too. Biggest issue here is that not many local merchants have sheep meal (or sheep supplies in general) as I’m in a big dairy area. Used to be beef and dairy a few years back but mostly dairy now

A neighbour uses an 8 by 4 trailer with extension on the sides up to about 30ins.
he says it's easier to get the stuff out of than big bags or JFC bins........ He didn't spend much on the trailer

Cavanjack · 03-11-2019 8:11pm

If You are only feeding 4 tonne a year that is only 160 25kg bags altogether.
Assuming you feed this over 6 months (autumn/winter) its only a bag a day you are handling. Get a pallet delivered and forget about a bin, bulk bags, jfc container blue barrels, trailer etc.

wrangler · 03-11-2019 8:17pm

Cavanjack wrote: »

If You are only feeding 4 tonne a year that is only 160 25kg bags altogether.
Assuming you feed this over 6 months (autumn/winter) its only a bag a day you are handling. Get a pallet delivered and forget about a bin, bulk bags, jfc container blue barrels, trailer etc.

I didn't see it was only 4 ton/year so not worth getting a bin,
especially with different rations, be different if you could feed sheep ration to cattle etc

mr.stonewall · 03-11-2019 9:58pm

mr.stonewall wrote: »

Made up an ibc bin. Cut the top ring off it so as not to have to bend and fall into it and put 2 plywood hinged lids on it.vermin proof and just leave into shed. Great for calf ration and a bit of soya bean meal in the winter. . Holds 500kg of nuts and 400kg ration. Big saving on bags and time over the year on just calves.
Lifted on off the pick up with the loader.
Also have 2 big bins for ration aswell and swear buy them
Will post picture later

Pic as promised
https://m.imgur.com/gallery/kK7JNT3

RobinBanks · 03-11-2019 10:12pm

mr.stonewall wrote: »

Pic as promised
https://m.imgur.com/gallery/kK7JNT3

Can you reach all the way down to the bottom?

mr.stonewall · 03-11-2019 10:32pm

RobinBanks wrote: »

Can you reach all the way down to the bottom?

Yes and I'm not the tallestðŸ˜‰ Dropped the height of it down one bar (approx 8 inches) easy empty as the lids are at both sides

Siamsa Sessions · 11-11-2019 5:07pm

Just to close the loop here...

The difference between bulk and small bags would be around €20 for beef cubes. Being in a big dairy area, several merchants don't even stock sheep cubes but could order it in if I wanted. I was told this previously but I double-checked anyway.

Between this info and the very useful posts above, I decided to just stick with the small bags for now. Having said that, I might try source a few wheelie bins for feeding calves outside next year - might not save much money but it'd save dragging buckets/bags from the shed to the field.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Bass Reeves · 12-11-2019 2:14am

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Just to close the loop here...

The difference between bulk and small bags would be around €20 for beef cubes. Being in a big dairy area, several merchants don't even stock sheep cubes but could order it in if I wanted. I was told this previously but I double-checked anyway.

Between this info and the very useful posts above, I decided to just stick with the small bags for now. Having said that, I might try source a few wheelie bins for feeding calves outside next year - might not save much money but it'd save dragging buckets/bags from the shed to the field.

Thanks again for all the advice.

For 20/ton I would not be bothered. You have to factor digging it out of bins rather than emptying a half bag into a bucket or throwing it on your shoulder and heading down the field.

satstheway · 29-11-2019 2:17am

Titan 750kg meal bin yes or no?
Anyone used them

https://www.homeland.ie/84679/750kg-titan-low-profile-meal-bin-lid

hopeso · 01-12-2019 8:37pm

kk.man wrote: »

Wow... I have 2 jfc bins.. How much are the meal risers?

Did you get a price on them? I just found this..... :eek::eek::eek: https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/machinery/agriinventors-raise-the-bar-farm-laboursaving-ideas-to-the-fore-at-this-years-national-inventions-event-38436371.html

kk.man · 01-12-2019 10:03pm

hopeso wrote: »

Did you get a price on them? I just found this..... :eek::eek::eek: https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/machinery/agriinventors-raise-the-bar-farm-laboursaving-ideas-to-the-fore-at-this-years-national-inventions-event-38436371.html

Wow that's dear!.. I bought my jfc a few years back circ 300e.

Bass Reeves · 02-12-2019 1:31am

kk.man wrote: »

Wow that's dear!.. I bought my jfc a few years back circ 300e.

If you got the grant it would knock a huge hole in a fixed 3-4 ton bin.

Limestone Cowboy · 02-12-2019 11:14am

satstheway wrote: »

Titan 750kg meal bin yes or no?
Anyone used them

https://www.homeland.ie/84679/750kg-titan-low-profile-meal-bin-lid

A neighbour has one of them. Lid isn't great and his one got caught by the wind while closed and is all warped now. Would prefer the jfc ones.

Which meal bin?

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