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At the end of 2016, Keenan – an Alltech company – introduced a self-propelled diet feeder and vertical feeder to the market.
This was a big move away from its core business of trailed paddle feeders but something Keenan realised the market was looking for. This is a collaboration between Keenan and Italian feeder company Storti.
Together, the two companies have built a range of twin- and triple-auger vertical feeders.
Long synonymous with the paddle feeder, Keenan sees the introduction of a vertical-feeder offering to their range as a major development.
The VA2-18 is the first in the range of vertical-auger feeders being brought to the market featuring twin and triple augers with an 18m3 capacity.
“Keenan has always been a proponent of the unique quality of the MechFiber mix produced by our paddle diet feeders,” said Matt Higgins, commercial director of Keenan.
In partnering with Storti, Keenan believes it has found the best vertical machine on the market and has enhanced its performance by adding in-touch technology. Keenan is not turning its back on paddle-mixing technology and still believes the best mix is that from a paddle feeder.
Keenan VA feeder.
“These vertical-auger machines do not produce the holy grail that is the MechFiber mix; however, the nutritional output they can now produce has been greatly optimised thanks to implementing our unique algorithms for the exact mixing order, speed and rotations,” continued Higgins.
“We are confident the Keenan vertical offering is the best the market has seen, both in terms of build quality and production benefits to the farmer.”
Build quality is something Keenan is also keen to highlight. The VA2 (two vertical augers) and VA3 (three vertical augers) are mounted on a custom-built chassis. Some of the attributes of these machines are heavy-duty augers with long-lasting tungsten-coated blades, front and rear discharge doors, auger-mounted blades specifically for handling bales, in-touch technology, two speed gearbox and a hay-ring.
Sel-propelled
For farmers with a lot of animals to feed and looking to go down the self-propelled route, Keenan has brought the biggest machine yet to the fleet – the MechFiber 345SP.
This is a six-paddle feeder with fixed knives fitted to the base of the machine.
Again, like the trailed VF models, this machine is built on the Storti manufactured chassis that will be available in 16m3 and 20m3 variants for the 2017/18 season. According to Keenan CEO Robbie Walker, Keenan and Storti had been in talks for quite some time about this exciting development: a self-propelled machine with a loading mechanism that does not destruct fibre and delivers a quality MechFiber mix. The hydraulically raised and lowered cutter head is designed to quickly deliver material to the loading arm.
The arrangement of the tungsten-coated blades on the cutter rotor are configured to reduce any damage to the silage by not over-chopping material during loading. The rotor can run in both directions in case it gets blocked, and feeds directly on to the speed loading belt.
Once the material reaches the paddle-mixer, it can be discharged via a cross conveyer on both the left and right side depending on operator preference. The maximum forward speed of this machine is either 25km/h or 40km/h depending on transmission choice.
To drive all this, a four-cylinder 4.5-litre 170hp Iveco FPT engine is fitted. Through a specially designed gearbox and PTO shaft, Keenan has also fitted a mechanical drive to the mixing unit. This means there is no hydraulic pump required to drive it.
This, they say, transfers all of the engine’s power to the mixing unit and avoids expensive replacements. Interestingly, on this machine and unlike the trailed machines, the mixing unit is driven from the rear. This is so the cross conveyor can fit in behind the engine within close proximity of the driver’s view rearwards.
To aid visibility on this machine, two cameras feed into a display in the cab.
The InTouch controller is at eye level on the A-pillar with all other controls falling close to hand on the right of the cab.
The cab on this machine is compact due to the loading arm on the right, so climate control is also fitted to make the operator’s life that bit more comfortable.
On the subject of comfort, all wheels have independent hydro pneumatic suspension.
A central greasing system and chain-oiler are fitted to reduce down time and prolong component life.
Behind the cab, the engine bay is accessible through a one piece door.
There is no doubt this is not a machine for everyone but definitely one that Keenan see a future with.
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