Mixer makes tough conditions easy

Hokonui Farms at Kaiwaka in Northland is 211 effective, gentle rolling hectares with challenging clay and limestone soils that are often wet in winter. Around two thirds of the property can be irrigated during a dry spell.

The dairy operation runs to five hundred cows, producing around 180,000 kgMS/ annum, with yields of 360 kgMS/cow and 900 kgMS/ha. A beef enterprise on the farm runs to 170 head, using Hereford sand Angus bulls over the dairy cows, finishes heifers at around 24 months, with steers taking a little longer to 28 months.

Due to the challenging conditions, a decision was made around five years ago to install a concrete feed pad that allowed cattle to be stood off paddocks to reduce pugging, while at the same time, a second-hand mixer wagon arrived to ensure all animals were fed equally and received monitored and consistent ration. This was replaced in 2022 with a new eighteen cubic metre capacity Peecon Biga mixer wagon.

The 500 kiwicross cows are split into two herds, with a system 3.5 feeding regime. With an 18 cube Peecon mixer wagon the machine is large enough yet compact enough to be manoeuvrable around the yard and feed-pad. Maize, PKE, grass silage and hay, or a combination is able to be fed out most days throughout lactation.

Innes is particularly pleased with the ability to incorporate minerals with a mix, ensuring each animal gets the required dosage.

There is an added advantage of removing the time-consuming task of dusting magnesium powder to paddocks and notes that the overall result is a sizeable reduction in metabolic problems and happier cows. During the drier summer months, there is the ability to add up to two thousand litres of water, which means there is reduced pressure on water troughs and subsequent breaking of ballcock arms.

Powered by the farm’s 110hp tractor, Innes says the Peecon is easy to operate, easy to maintain with a centralised greasing system and has good visibility all round.

In particular, the hydraulic discharge conveyor allows feed bins to be filled easily, with no spillage, while its length means the tractor and mixer are kept further away from the bins, so reducing potential machine or tyre damage.

During a European trip earlier in the year, the Andersons took the opportunity to visit the Peecon factory in the Netherlands.

“Like ourselves, Peecon is a family business that has been in manufacturing since 1973,” says Innes. “Looking around the vast facility, it was fascinating to see the attention to detail, from the arrival of the raw materials to the precision engineering and the chance to sit and talk with the owners.”

Tania says their visit to Peecon made them appreciate where their money had gone. “An investment that brings together innovation, quality and a great deal of care.”