From small suckler farmers right up to large dairy farms, round bales of silage are ubiquitous across the Irish landscape. They’re a great way to preserve silage either on a small or large scale. They are used to bring grazing rotations back into line by “taking out” a strong paddock and feeding stock in the back-end of the year when opening a pit of silage is not needed or when grazing is getting tight.

Alternative solutions

Generally, a front loader or loading shovel is used to feed these but some companies out there have come up with alternative solutions.

New Zealand company Hustler manufactured the SL350 bale feeder. It is available through its Irish agent, Johnston Farm Equipment, in Longford. The Hustler is designed to handle either round or square bales of silage, hay, haylage or straw. It’s a machine that can be operated on a three-point linkage or on the front loader.

The machine is made up of two main parts, the bale spike and the bale cradle. The key point of this machine is that the bale can be loaded on to the bale cradle without having to detach the machine from the three-point linkage. A simple spring-loaded latch releases the built-in bale spike that slots neatly into the underside of the bale cradle. When it comes to loading a bale, the operator pulls the latch, drives out exposing the bale spike, loads a new bale into the bale cradle and returns the spike into the slots under the cradle. The dog-clutch on the cradle then re-engages with the drive motor on the spike and work can recommence.

Lining up the spikes is made easier thanks to one being shorter than the other. To unravel the bale, a single hydraulic valve is used to drive the hydraulic motor that turns the chain upon which the bales sits. Spikes on the crossbars grab the bale and rotate it to feed either the left- or right-hand side, depending on preference.

Kane O’Connor of Johnston Farm Equipment said: “The machine can handle both round and square bales thanks to its 12,000lb galvanised chain. PVC in the floor means you can leave a bale sitting in it and it won’t rust either. Any time we demonstrate this machine we sell it as they’re so simple and easy to use plus they make life a lot easier for the farmer. A small 60hp or 70hp tractor can easily handle it due to its light weight.”

Four bearings require infrequent greasing which is the total amount of maintenance required. The price for the SL350 is €5,900 including VAT. Other companies have realised the benefits of this system and have also turned their engineering skills to making similar machines.