UK Politician Alistair Carmichael Praises "Positive Spirit" of NZ Farmers
A leading British farming politician says he's impressed with the positive attitude of New Zealand farmers that he met during his recent trip here.
Nutrition management and consistent, balanced feeding play a critical role in maintaining animal health, supporting milk production, improving feed efficiency, and reducing costly digestive stress for the herd.
Feed Consistency Critical for Dairy Production
With feed representing up to 60% of dairy production costs on many farms, achieving accurate and consistent feed delivery is essential.
Total Mixed Ration (TMR) systems help ensure every mouthful contains the correct balance of nutrients, minerals, and fibre.
However, successful TMR feeding depends not only on ration formulation, but also on the quality and consistency of the mixing and feed-out process.
Abbey Machinery’s premium twin and triauger diet feeders are engineered to support these principles through thorough mixing, accurate weighing, efficient feedout, and flexible machine configurations suited to modern dairy operations.
Rolled Tub Design Improves Mixing Efficiency
Many key features include a rolled tub design for fast, complete and efficient mixing, complemented by precision auger systems for even ingredient distribution and reduced feed sorting by the animals.
In addition, an optimised auger and wall design helps reduce overall power demands.
Offering the capability to handle grass silage, maize silage, straw, whole crop, grain, vegetables and blended rations, adjustable knives and extended counter knives deliver efficient processing of the varying feed types.
Flexible feed-out and discharge configurations, combined with accurate weighing systems ensure consistent ration delivery and presentation to the animals.
Dairy Farmers Report Improved Feed Efficiency
Morrinsville dairy farmer Zeb Wills uses an Abbey mixer wagon as part of his 580-cow operation and says the machine has helped improve feed consistency while reducing waste.
“The full mix means the cows are getting all the crucial minerals and nutrients in each mouthful,” says Wills. “Every cow gets the same balance of feed, keeping them healthy and reducing waste significantly. The Abbey machine has really helped support our high-input system and maximise milk production.”
Likewise, South Auckland farmer Jim Foote, who milks 550 cows in Karaka, says the Abbey feeder has improved both feed consistency and operational efficiency on farm.
“The quality of the mix and feed-out has helped reduce wastage, while the speed of mixing and chopping has saved significant time,” says Foote. “The machine handles a wide range of ingredients in one load, including grass silage, maize, grain and vegetables, which has really helped drive production during the winter months.”
Expanded Range for 2026
With an extensive a range of models from 15 cube to 40 cube; the most popular being the 20, 25 and 30 cubic metre capacities in the New Zealand market.
New additions to the range for 2026 include the VF1700, VF1900 and VF4000, offering increased flexibility and capacity for growing dairy operations.
Popular optional extras include the Combi front-mounted fixed PVC conveyor with side discharge elevator and the 3200mm PVC belt discharge elevator, helping tailor machines to individual farm layouts and feeding systems.
Alongside its feeding equipment, Abbey Machinery will also showcase its slurry and manure management solutions, developed to support efficient nutrient application and sustainable farming practices.
Visitors the Enterprise Ireland site at D67 or visit www.farmgard.co.nz
