There are a number of companies in Ireland which supply and manufacture feed silos. For this recent development at Lyons estate, it was McAree Engineering who were awarded the contract to supply a 16t and 35t single silo and a 25t split silo for connection to the new Dairymaster milking unit.

The body of this V-Mac silo is made of 1.5mm galvanised steel and creates an external spiral seam which helps to add significant strength to the silo body shape.

The internal leg structure is made from 70x70x6mm hot dipped galvanised angle iron. Due to the unique rolled body, there are very few nuts and bolts on the body for animal feed to stick on.

The breather pipe has a stainless steel section over the roof of the silo as this section stops the moist dust eating through the pipe. The feed is blown in through an anti-separation chamber. This acts like a mini cyclone and helps prevent the feed separating as it’s blown in to help ensure a consistent quality of feed through the silo.

UCD opted for the enclosed silo option, so the bottom cone area is protected from the elements and this ensures a clean and tidy environment around the silos.

The silo base used 35 Newton concrete, which incorporated no reinforcement metal. Overall 16t of concrete was used in the base, which has dimensions of 12x12x1ft. The base was made as level as possible as the smallest slope on the base would have being magnified hugely due to the height of the silo.

Picture one

For the UCD Lyons Estate job, a Scania R420 and a 35ft trailer with a rear steering axle was used. The rear steering axle allows increased manoeuvring even in tight spots. The silo sits in a specially built cradle and is held in position by ratchet straps. The truck also has a Palfinger PJ080 crane that provides the option to lift silos over walls or position silos in hard-to-reach locations.

Pictures two and three

The installation rig has a built-in generator driving hydraulically controlled rams which will move the silo horizontally and tip it vertically. The lorry driver manoeuvres the silo on the jib, into a vertical position over the base. This is all operated from the back of the trailer. He then loosens the straps holding the silo to the jib and reverses the rig, effectively leaving the silo in position on the base.

Picture four

If the silo needs to be adjusted on the base, the installer levers rolling bars underneath the angle iron floor ring and simply pushes the bin into position. This allows for the door to be positioned exactly where required.

Picture five

Once it’s in the final position, connecting angle iron feet are bolted to each of the internal legs. Then holding holes are drilled into the base through the positioning holes on the feet. This is why it’s important that there are no reinforcement bars through the base.

Picture six

The silo is bolted into the base using six-inch-long, 24mm diameter zinc plated rawl bolts. The silo should be centred on the concrete base so that it is not near the edge – this limits the risk of the base splitting or cracking when drilled.

Picture seven

To finish off the base, some customers fill the angle iron base rings with a couple of inches of concrete to “floor” the silo, shown here in another bin.

A slight slope from back to front should be accounted for to make it easier to wash it out. A waterproof skim also helps prevent moisture getting in. The angle iron ring at the doorway should never be cut as this helps prevent vermin getting into the area underneath the silo when the door is closed.