Feeding cattle is a materials-handling job for most farmers; there is a daily need to present volumes of silage and other bulk feed in front of animals once the winter-feeding period begins. There are many machine-based options to choose from, and all require the same attention to combining efficiency with cost-effectiveness and flexibility.

For some farmers, there are issues of access as their choices are limited by the buildings and farmyard design available to them. This brings the need for a careful examination of the machinery options.

Earlier this year, I met Joe Clancy, who runs a suckler and beef farm at Toberpatrick, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, and who has to work with limited farmyard conversion which restricts access for bigger machinery. He bought the Toberpatrick farm a number of years ago and then moved his entire farming operation from Co Wicklow to the new location.

Joe’s farmyard consisted of some older stone buildings that gave limited scope for change as they had restrictive preservation orders. He was granted permission to erect a slatted shed in the yard, but only on the basis that it was of such a design that it could be removed at a later date. All the time, space and accessibility was going to be an issue.

When it came to machinery choices for cattle winter feeding, the shed and yard designs also limited his loader choices. His large Deutz-Fahr tractor, which would not be considered to be very big, was unwieldy in the modified older yard.

Joe needed a loader that could operate in his tight yard and lift heavy silage bales. He looked at loader options, but many new loaders were expensive. A secondhand loader was an option but he had a poor reliability experience with a secondhand loader in the past.

He looked at a skid-steer loader choice and took a test drive in one used by a neighbouring farmer. He was concerned about its ability to handle larger and heavier silage bales.

His final choice was a Chinese-built Manitech MTL10 articulated loader, which he bought from James Nally of Lisnascreen Machinery (087-2605079) who is based outside Glasson, Co Westmeath. One year later and Joe Clancy remains very happy with his choice of a loader that is compact and manoeuvrable and low-cost to buy and to run.

“The MTL10 loader does everything that I want it to do. If someone came into the yard and wanted to borrow my Deutz-Fahr tractor or the MTL loader, I would let them take the tractor, not the loader,” says Joe. “I use it every day, handling bales, moving straw and for general yard work,” he says.

Joe admits that he was somewhat apprehensive initially when making the choice as this was the first loader of its type to be sold in the country. “I was unsure if that loader could handle some of my heavy bales, especially with the Tanco bale shear included.’’

Drier bales

‘‘There was no problem the whole season long and, thankfully, the bales are a bit drier this year,” adds Joe.

The running costs of the loader are very modest. Joe reckons that during the first winter of ownership, he used €160 worth of diesel over 170 hours. He works off the farm during the week and spends about one hour feeding up to 50 heifers each day before going to work.

The MTL10 loader cost Joe €22,000 including VAT and came with a bucket, and a set of pallet forks.

The loader unit was fitted with a quick-attach system by Lisnascreen Machinery to accommodate the Tanco bale shear, which was not included in the price.

The loader is powered by a 50hp Perkins design four-cylinder direct injection diesel engine, driving through a hydrostatic drive that gives a forward and reverse shuttle. There is a high- and a low-speed option, available by a simple lever control.

Full range

There is a full range of MTL loaders, all of which are manufactured in China. They are imported into Europe by Manitech based in Poland, where the CE certification and engine emissions certification is provided for Europe.

“Beef farming cannot justify high machinery costs,” says Joe.

“The loader is cost-effective as it is close to €20,000 cheaper than any other competing loader, an important consideration as margins are tight in farming today,” he adds.

‘‘Most of all, the loader can operate in comfort in my restricted yard and handle my silage bales throughout the year,” says Joe.

Chinese origin loader manufacturers are making inroads into the farm loader market, with machines that are based on western designs but at more competitive prices. We have seen a number of machines advertised that claim origins to the Caterpillar and Volvo brands. The advice is to speak to an existing user, be satisfied with parts availability and local service. Get a test drive on your own farm before you agree to buying.

Read more

Focus: Winter feeding equipment