Over the past number of years, bale unrollers have become increasingly popular on Irish farms that feed round-bale silage. The concept was designed to be a fast and effective solution for feeding out round bales, with the big goal being reducing the need for manual forking. It also brings about other advantages of feeding fresh silage on a more regular basis.
Irish farmers who may be on the lookout for a bale unroller to make the winter feeding season that bit easier are certainly in a buyers’ market.
Looking at what machines are currently available on the Irish market, we counted six different brands. Four of the six brands are built on the island of Ireland, while the remaining two are both imported from the other side of the world, notably New Zealand, where the outdoor feeding of round bales using such attachments is common practice.
Nugent
Manufactured in Co Tyrone, the Nugent Bale Feeder complements Nugent’s existing bale-handling range.
The Nugent machine is capable of being used on the three-point linkage or on a front loader/telehandler. Its quick-attach automated locking system means no manual input is required from the operator. This means bales can also be loaded and unloaded from the cab.
The hydraulic motor controls the adjustable feed rates on the two-sided feeder. The motor is protected by a steel guard from any exposure. For maximum lifespan, Nugent uses a zinc-plated chain that protects it from rust. Heavy duty bale spikes along with wide flared and easy guide cones allow for simple engagement when coupling, ensuring a consistent and secure connection.
Nugent fits a rear guard as standard for extra protection. It also prevents overspill and wastage. Meanwhile, the floor is constructed from a single-piece high-density polyethylene. The unit is priced at €5,800 plus VAT.
Hustler
Built in New Zealand and imported by Johnston Farm Machinery in Longford, Hustler’s go-to machine is the recently launched LX105. The LX105 is a follow-on from the original Sl350.
The LX105 features a 12,000lb roller chain with a large-diameter roller. The latest model features automatic locking and unlocking of the headstock, whereas the older models had a rope that had to be pulled to disconnect the headstock.
The Hustler LX105 is priced at €5,375 plus VAT.
The new system means the operator simply lowers the machine, pulls out, loads the bale, reverses back in and lifts. It is called the Snaplock system. The floor now wraps around the driving bars on each side, stopping silage from being wrapped around the bars as you feed. It features covered bearings to keep them protected from dirt. The new model also features a new chain tensioner.
It has a lower floor height for ease of use when loading either saggy bales or loading with a tractor on small tyres. Rollers are now standard for handling misshaped bales. You can drive the machine from either side of the cradle.
Now coming with a four-year warranty, the LX105 retails at €5,375 plus VAT.
Irish Engineering Products (IEP)
Based in Carlow, IEP manufactures its version of the bale unroller called the Bale Commander.
It is equipped with a 6mm floor, manufactured from high grade steel. It is also operated utilising a hydraulic motor and heavy duty chain, finished in hard wearing two-pack paint.
The headstock is attached and detached using a hook system rather than a pull rope. The headstock comes with two 1,250mm spikes for loading the bales and moving the machine. The bolt-on brackets on the headstock make the machine versatile. It can either be attached to the front of an industrial loader or the back of a tractor. Pricing for the basic spec machine starts at €5,200 plus VAT.
Pricing for the IEP offering starts at €5,200 plus VAT.
Additional options are available at an added cost. These include anti-spill bars and galvanising. IEP has just introduced a straw spreader attachment. The firm say this was first developed last year and tested throughout last winter with excellent results to date.
Claiming to be the only current manufacturer offering such an option on the Irish market, the straw spreader is retailing at €1,750 plus VAT. The Irish Farmers Journal understands IEP is currently working on a 180° rotating bale feeder which the company hope to have on the on the market next year.
Bridgeway
Midlands-based Bridgeway Engineering also offers its version of the bale unroller which it calls the Diamond bale feeder. The Diamond feeder comes with three-point linkage and can be mounted on a front loader or telehandler. For easy loading, the feeder has been designed with a low bale cradle.
The Bridgeway Diamond has a list price of €5,000 plus VAT. It can be fitted with a weighing system.
Something unique to Bridgeway is its optional bale-weighing system. This enables the operator to know exactly the amount of forage that is being fed out at all times. Bridgeway says it can be preset to the desired feed-out rate.
The machine is equipped with heavy duty replaceable chain bars. Its fully enclosed floor helps to minimise feed losses. All shafts are covered, while the side rollers come with heavy duty rubber flap guards as standard.
For a long life in harsh conditions, Bridgeway fully galvanized the machine. It has a power requirement of at least 75hp and needs one double-acting hydraulic valve. It can feed out to the left or to the right with the simple touch of a lever. The machine has a list price of €5,000 plus VAT.
Giltrap
Manufactured in New Zealand, Giltrap manufactures a range of bale unrollers, from the standard mounted machine (G2) to quad/jeep pulled versions to slightly larger self-loading machines. Some can even handle square bales, although not a popular option in Ireland.
The Giltrap G2 is priced at €4,000 plus VAT.
The G2 bale feeder is the most common machine for the Irish market. It is primarily designed to feed out round bales, but can also handle square bales, according to the manufacturer. Designed for working outdoor on hills, it features a low cradle design. It can feed the bale out in either direction.
Meanwhile, the feed-out rate is controlled from the cab.
Interestingly, Giltrap claims the G2 can be both loaded, connected and driven at either end of the machine, in a bid to reduce tractor movement. Giltrap says its design features strong, solid pin roller chains with replaceable feed bars and an easy tensioning system.
It is fitted with a stainless steel floor to help resist any corrosion. The drive shafts don’t use ball bearings – instead, Giltrap uses greasable cast bushes as they are impervious to water and dirt.
It also encompasses large skid feet which don’t sink in soft ground. It is priced at €4,000 plus VAT.
Blaney
Manufactured in Co Antrim, Blaney’s Forager X10 is the firm’s flagship bale unroller and was first introduced over 10 years ago. Blaney offers a range of bale unrollers, from the higher-end Forager X10 to the recently launched entry level G model.
The Forager X10 lifts, loads and feeds out both sides, all controlled from the cab.
The entry level Blaney bale unroller is priced at €4,400 plus VAT.
Blaney claims its drive components are capable of withstanding forces in excess of 50,000 Newton’s. The firm says its triple feed out spikes, bale chamber design, heavy duty conveyor bars and side rollers have been developed to deal with difficult bales.
It is fitted with safety guards to protect livestock from injury. Blaney say the 50mm sprung tines are designed for road travel and to handle heavy bales. The Forager X10 is used on three-point linkage behind the tractor, while offset options are also available.
They also offer an optional adapter frame for mounting on either a loader/handler.
Meanwhile, the Forager X10L is a dedicated loader/telehandler version of the bale unroller, ideal to unroll bales into mixer wagons to speed up processing times. The X10W with an extension side is designed for those with troughs or barriers to feed over. Prices for the new G model entry level bale feeder start from €4,400 plus VAT.
Over the past number of years, bale unrollers have become increasingly popular on Irish farms that feed round-bale silage. The concept was designed to be a fast and effective solution for feeding out round bales, with the big goal being reducing the need for manual forking. It also brings about other advantages of feeding fresh silage on a more regular basis.
Irish farmers who may be on the lookout for a bale unroller to make the winter feeding season that bit easier are certainly in a buyers’ market.
Looking at what machines are currently available on the Irish market, we counted six different brands. Four of the six brands are built on the island of Ireland, while the remaining two are both imported from the other side of the world, notably New Zealand, where the outdoor feeding of round bales using such attachments is common practice.
Nugent
Manufactured in Co Tyrone, the Nugent Bale Feeder complements Nugent’s existing bale-handling range.
The Nugent machine is capable of being used on the three-point linkage or on a front loader/telehandler. Its quick-attach automated locking system means no manual input is required from the operator. This means bales can also be loaded and unloaded from the cab.
The hydraulic motor controls the adjustable feed rates on the two-sided feeder. The motor is protected by a steel guard from any exposure. For maximum lifespan, Nugent uses a zinc-plated chain that protects it from rust. Heavy duty bale spikes along with wide flared and easy guide cones allow for simple engagement when coupling, ensuring a consistent and secure connection.
Nugent fits a rear guard as standard for extra protection. It also prevents overspill and wastage. Meanwhile, the floor is constructed from a single-piece high-density polyethylene. The unit is priced at €5,800 plus VAT.
Hustler
Built in New Zealand and imported by Johnston Farm Machinery in Longford, Hustler’s go-to machine is the recently launched LX105. The LX105 is a follow-on from the original Sl350.
The LX105 features a 12,000lb roller chain with a large-diameter roller. The latest model features automatic locking and unlocking of the headstock, whereas the older models had a rope that had to be pulled to disconnect the headstock.
The Hustler LX105 is priced at €5,375 plus VAT.
The new system means the operator simply lowers the machine, pulls out, loads the bale, reverses back in and lifts. It is called the Snaplock system. The floor now wraps around the driving bars on each side, stopping silage from being wrapped around the bars as you feed. It features covered bearings to keep them protected from dirt. The new model also features a new chain tensioner.
It has a lower floor height for ease of use when loading either saggy bales or loading with a tractor on small tyres. Rollers are now standard for handling misshaped bales. You can drive the machine from either side of the cradle.
Now coming with a four-year warranty, the LX105 retails at €5,375 plus VAT.
Irish Engineering Products (IEP)
Based in Carlow, IEP manufactures its version of the bale unroller called the Bale Commander.
It is equipped with a 6mm floor, manufactured from high grade steel. It is also operated utilising a hydraulic motor and heavy duty chain, finished in hard wearing two-pack paint.
The headstock is attached and detached using a hook system rather than a pull rope. The headstock comes with two 1,250mm spikes for loading the bales and moving the machine. The bolt-on brackets on the headstock make the machine versatile. It can either be attached to the front of an industrial loader or the back of a tractor. Pricing for the basic spec machine starts at €5,200 plus VAT.
Pricing for the IEP offering starts at €5,200 plus VAT.
Additional options are available at an added cost. These include anti-spill bars and galvanising. IEP has just introduced a straw spreader attachment. The firm say this was first developed last year and tested throughout last winter with excellent results to date.
Claiming to be the only current manufacturer offering such an option on the Irish market, the straw spreader is retailing at €1,750 plus VAT. The Irish Farmers Journal understands IEP is currently working on a 180° rotating bale feeder which the company hope to have on the on the market next year.
Bridgeway
Midlands-based Bridgeway Engineering also offers its version of the bale unroller which it calls the Diamond bale feeder. The Diamond feeder comes with three-point linkage and can be mounted on a front loader or telehandler. For easy loading, the feeder has been designed with a low bale cradle.
The Bridgeway Diamond has a list price of €5,000 plus VAT. It can be fitted with a weighing system.
Something unique to Bridgeway is its optional bale-weighing system. This enables the operator to know exactly the amount of forage that is being fed out at all times. Bridgeway says it can be preset to the desired feed-out rate.
The machine is equipped with heavy duty replaceable chain bars. Its fully enclosed floor helps to minimise feed losses. All shafts are covered, while the side rollers come with heavy duty rubber flap guards as standard.
For a long life in harsh conditions, Bridgeway fully galvanized the machine. It has a power requirement of at least 75hp and needs one double-acting hydraulic valve. It can feed out to the left or to the right with the simple touch of a lever. The machine has a list price of €5,000 plus VAT.
Giltrap
Manufactured in New Zealand, Giltrap manufactures a range of bale unrollers, from the standard mounted machine (G2) to quad/jeep pulled versions to slightly larger self-loading machines. Some can even handle square bales, although not a popular option in Ireland.
The Giltrap G2 is priced at €4,000 plus VAT.
The G2 bale feeder is the most common machine for the Irish market. It is primarily designed to feed out round bales, but can also handle square bales, according to the manufacturer. Designed for working outdoor on hills, it features a low cradle design. It can feed the bale out in either direction.
Meanwhile, the feed-out rate is controlled from the cab.
Interestingly, Giltrap claims the G2 can be both loaded, connected and driven at either end of the machine, in a bid to reduce tractor movement. Giltrap says its design features strong, solid pin roller chains with replaceable feed bars and an easy tensioning system.
It is fitted with a stainless steel floor to help resist any corrosion. The drive shafts don’t use ball bearings – instead, Giltrap uses greasable cast bushes as they are impervious to water and dirt.
It also encompasses large skid feet which don’t sink in soft ground. It is priced at €4,000 plus VAT.
Blaney
Manufactured in Co Antrim, Blaney’s Forager X10 is the firm’s flagship bale unroller and was first introduced over 10 years ago. Blaney offers a range of bale unrollers, from the higher-end Forager X10 to the recently launched entry level G model.
The Forager X10 lifts, loads and feeds out both sides, all controlled from the cab.
The entry level Blaney bale unroller is priced at €4,400 plus VAT.
Blaney claims its drive components are capable of withstanding forces in excess of 50,000 Newton’s. The firm says its triple feed out spikes, bale chamber design, heavy duty conveyor bars and side rollers have been developed to deal with difficult bales.
It is fitted with safety guards to protect livestock from injury. Blaney say the 50mm sprung tines are designed for road travel and to handle heavy bales. The Forager X10 is used on three-point linkage behind the tractor, while offset options are also available.
They also offer an optional adapter frame for mounting on either a loader/handler.
Meanwhile, the Forager X10L is a dedicated loader/telehandler version of the bale unroller, ideal to unroll bales into mixer wagons to speed up processing times. The X10W with an extension side is designed for those with troughs or barriers to feed over. Prices for the new G model entry level bale feeder start from €4,400 plus VAT.
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