Based just outside Oldcastle, Co Meath, Des Hand operates a 30-cow suckler herd. All weanlings are kept and fattened on the farm before being sold to the local butcher. The fattening period typically ranges from February to June. Sixteen months ago, Des made the decision to go down the route of buying a Zero Grazer to feed fresh grass to the fattening cattle and reduce his input costs.

Having only wanted a compact nimble machine to suit his enterprise, Des approached the locally based manufacturer, Zero Grazer about the possibility of building a machine to suit his needs. However, the firm had already been working on a similar offering for small beef and equine enterprises as well as county councils for jobs such as verge mowing etc.

Sixteen months on with the minigrazer, Des is happy with how it has performed and how it has allowed him to make considerable savings. Over the whole fattening period, Des now feeds fresh grass, both when the cattle are housed and in the spring when cattle have the option of accessing the fields behind the sheds.

Previously Des was feeding silage and 7kg of meal per head per day. Des explained how he has reduced his meal bill remarkably, now only feeding 2kg per head per day of barley over the fattening period alongside the fresh-cut grass. He noted how the stock seem more easily finished now than they were previously when being fed on silage and meal.

The quanity of silage made has also been reduced, now making in the region of 250 bales less annually as the Zero Grazer leaves the option of grass feeding viable. Last year, Des noted how the machine wasn’t parked up until January past as growth conditions and growth were in favour.

No fertiliser

Des said he has completely cut out the use of fertiliser on the farm too. Instead, he makes better use of slurry which is spread after fields are zero grazed. All in all, the minigrazer has allowed Des to work more efficiently and manage both his time and his grassland better.

The machine is similar to the firm’s larger offerings with the front mowing unit and elevator unit the same. The obvious differences are its shortened body, single axle and absence of floor chains.

Upfront the mower is a two drum 2.1m Galfre unit which has four reversible blades on each drum. The total carrying capacity is 5m3. Once the cut grass falls back ,it is caught by one of the nine rows of plastic elevator fingers where it is then raised into the body. The minigrazer weighs in at 2t empty and is shod on 500/50 R17 tyres. Des pulls the machine with his 80hp 2WD Massey Ferguson 5425. The minigrazer is priced at €22,700 plus VAT.

For more checkout the full story online or in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal.