Big M triple mower cuts the mustard and much, much more
Walling Contracting’s Ben Walling describes his Krone Big M 450 self-propelled mower as a “brilliant machine”.
Sometimes the choice is difficult when choosing a cutting system, because the machine will likely need to be dual purpose for mowing as well as topping or pre-cutting before grazing.
Maxam mowers, designed and built in New Zealand by Farmgear, offer a different perspective from the mainstream in that they can do all the above tasks and can also be used to spread cut crop in the same pass.
A range of machines offering in-line, offset or front mounting offers cutting widths 2.1-3.3m; they have a drum-style design carried on a full length skid assembly, and swinging replaceable blades that operate at tip speeds in excess of 300km/h.
The drum design allows an unobstructed flow of grass through the machine, even in heavy crops, and the swinging blades move back if they encounter any foreign objects; they are inexpensive to replace. The skids give good ground following characteristics, especially as they work in conjunction with a spring loaded top link system called ConTour.
Another point of difference with the Maxam mower is the ability to use the wilter attachment which spreads the cut crop in a carpet across the full width of the machine. Smaller rotors set behind the main cutting drums carry spring steel tines that lift the crop and throw it rearwards, with heavier material being thrown further, and landing above the shorter, drier material, getting more exposure to the wind and sunshine for quicker drying. This drying increases dry matter and ME and helps eliminate moulds which can spoil the conserved crop.
For more information visit www.maxam.net.nz
