Livestock Equipment

Whether they spike or grip, bale handlers all do just what the name implies, but there is a big difference in the manner in which this is achieved, this depending on whether you use wrapped bales or unwrapped bales.

Unwrapped bales are much easier to move, all you need is a spiked carrier on your tractor. Wrapped bales are more difficult to handle as you cannot afford to break the seal. Also known as ‘soft bale hands’ or ‘bale clamps’ these grip the bale in a firm but gentle manner, allowing you to move them about your farm as needed.

There are some bale handlers that do both of the above, but always remember using the right tool for the job is the key to a safe and efficient farming operation. Please contact us to discuss which bale handler – grab, fork or combination – is best for you.

Feeding livestock is an unforgiving task that just has to be done every day. So anything that can help must be welcomed, and this is where shear grab block cutters come to the rescue. These remove the ensiled material from your clamp (usually grass silage or maize) and then quickly and efficiently cut the block up into useable sizes, leaving a clean cut edge that reduces any secondary fermentation.

A shear grab is a better option than a loader bucket or a general purpose grab, whilst a reliable block cutter will save you hundreds of feeding hours each year, cutting various types of forage, even when dry, as needed. When you consider the alternative method of using a bucket and fork to lug the feed to the livestock, you can see why these are now an essential part of any livestock farmers tool kit.

Amia offer a wide range of feed mixer wagons in varying sizes. All of them can process small hay bales, forages and other ingredients, mixing them to produce a consistent nutritious Total Mixed Ration (TMR), this ensuring that dairy cattle or sheep receive the correct balance of grains, proteins, vitamins and minerals. These can be self propelled or run from a tractor power output.

There is no doubt that straw choppers make it much easier to prepare straw for use as bedding, the blowing action being really useful as it enables you to position the bedding just where you want it.

This can save a lot of time and is less liable, so experience has shown, to spook any of the more jittery animals.

There can be issues with very damp or dry / dusty silage or straw, and stones can be a problem, so again it is a good idea to consult with the experts at Heming Engineering before purchasing anything.

Yard scrapers are ideal for cleaning smooth surfaces in farm yards and buildings. They improve safety (far less slippery) as well as hygiene for human and livestock alike.

Yard scrapers are used to clean the animal loafing areas, by pushing the slurry to a storage area and leaving a clean and healthy environment for their hooves and coats.

Yard scrapers can be used to move just about any bulk material, sand, snow and coal as well as muck and manure.

They can be attached to just about any farm vehicle, skidsteers and tractors being the most commonly used.

There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration when selecting the best slurry tanker for your farm, this being made more complicated by the large range of new and used equipment that is available.

This is where you need the help of our experienced team. We will ask you the right questions, and can then select the perfect make and model. One that will fit your needs and budget.

The most important question relates to the size and power of the tractor that is going to be used, whilst the second is all about the ground conditions on the farm. The third delves into the class of farming operation. This concerns ‘derogation’, as such farms are required to use low emission slurry applicators to be exempt from higher stocking rates.

The amount of road-work the tanker will have to deal with is another point that must be taken into account, trailers then often needing to be built with a separate chassis. This supports the barrel and transfers the weight to the axles rather than the tractor drawbar.

There are other factors that need to be considered, like bogey steering and the type of slurry pump, this again highlighting the need to speak to an experienced supplier.

Manure spreaders are another vital piece of agricultural machinery for Livestock farmers, allowing the manure to be evenly distributed across the farms fields. This use of manure allows farmers to regulate the fertility of the soil and to ensure that the quality of their crops is maintained.

Manure spreaders have several important parts. The upper beater, lower beater and the spreader. Towed by a tractor (again the HP here needs to be known and the spreader matched), it will use various gears in order to manage various components of the spreader.

Normally, the First gear drives the upper beater, the second the lower beater. The third gear drives the feed conveyor and the top the actual spreader.

Today there are models with removable rotating mechanisms ( the beaters), attachable side extensions, and even tailgates for moving chopped forages, cereal grains, and other crops.

In most instances the manure spreader is towed behind the tractor with the rotating mechanism driven by the tractor's power take off (PTO).