The new disc mowers are claimed to give a cleaner cut in some grass conditions and, more importantly, they allow the machine to be operated with a wider cutting width.

Niall O’Reilly, of Zero Grazer, told the Irish Farmers Journal that they have modified the design of the disc mower to suit low cover application.

“This was a time consuming process as we had to try a range of different gear ratios to ensure that the disc mower will cut cleanly in all conditions,” said Niall.

Zero Grazer will offer drum mower zero grazing machines up to a maximum 2.1m (7ft) cutting width.

For wider cutting needs which give higher field outputs, the company is offering a 2.45m (8ft) disc mower that is claimed to be more suitable and ensures greater reliability and lower running costs.

The new ZG range of disc mower zero grazing machines are manufactured by in Ireland Hand Engineering based in Oldcastle Co Meath. The original Zero Grazer AB range of machines continues to be manufactured in Italy.

Zero Grazer, in conjunction with Hand Engineering, now employs 12 people. The company plans to begin exports of the machines next season.

The first Zero Grazer ZG100 disc mower machine is working on a farm on the Ards Peninsula, Co Down, cutting grass for 280 cows. The ZG100 is a 56m3 capacity machine and it is fitted with 710 tyres for low ground pressure situations.

This machine uses a 2.45m (8ft) wide disc mower. Zero Grazer claims to be the only manufacturer in the world to successfully attach a disc mower to a zero grazing machine. Up until now, zero grazing machines use drum mowers only.

Niall O’Reilly, of Zero Grazer, based in Kilnaleck, said that it has taken two years of research and development to successfully produce the ZG100.

The original ZG90, which is a 52m3 capacity machine, was built two years ago and has been on farm trials since then. This week, it is working on a dairy farm in Co Cork feeding 300 cows.

When weighed recently, the machine was carrying 9.6 tonnes of fresh grass.

For the 2013 season, the company has added five new machines to their line-up.

With the addition of the disc mower versions, Zero Grazer claims to have the largest range of machines to choose from.

There are 14 different models in the range of the 2013 season.

Prices for Zero Grazer machines from the company start at €20,000, including VAT.

Finance is available under Zero Grazer Finance.