increase font size
A heavy-duty magnet concept allows metal objects to be safely removed from outside the tub.
Cows ingesting metal objects in conserved feed is typically going to end in tears, quite often with a trip to the knacker’s yard.
Fitting a magnet to a mixer wagon auger can help extract these foreign bodies, but bring with them the task of removal, where operators must enter the mixing tub where they are exposed to sharp cutting blades. Additionally, some magnets are so powerful that they run the risk of erasing a chip in a credit card or do damage to a mobile phone. German mixer wagon manufacturer Siloking has developed a heavy-duty magnet concept that allows metal objects to be safely removed from outside the tub.
The company suggests this has made the job safer and easier, which seems to have the backing of judges at the recent Eurotier Show in Europe, who awarded the idea a silver medal.
Compared to existing solutions, the magnet is permanently secured to the base of a mixing auger, then shrouded by a stainless- steel housing.
The magnet is said to be so powerful that nails, mower blades and even tedder tines, adhere to this housing.
In operation, an integrated tool is used to slide out the housing, that when pulled away from the magnet, sees metal objects simply fall off to be collected. When used in a twice-daily feeding regime, the company recommends checking and clearing the magnet once a week.
The option can be fitted to all the firm’s trailed and self-propelled machines, costing around $4,000.
Milton dairy farmer Chris Wills says he began using probiotics in spring 2023 to address somatic cell count (SCC) grades when cows transitioned from their winter barn to lush spring pasture.
The arrival of new F8 and F9 designations for its 8000 and 9000 series forage harvesters, signals a swag of upgrades from John Deere, highlighted by topping the 1000hp mark for the first time.
Waikato-Bay of Plenty farmer Hugh Jackson recently secured this year’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year title in Invercargill.
Ashburton-based Carrfields has signed an agreement with Manitou to take over the distribution and retail rights for Manitou Agricultural Equipment covering the lower North Island and the South Island, effective August 1, 2025.
Treat your farm boundary like a border. This was one of the messages delivered to farmers at a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand Protect Your Patch workshop in Lincoln.
DairyNZ Chair Tracy Brown has seen a lot of change since she first started out in the dairy sector, with around one-third of dairy farmers now women.
Castle Ridge Station has been named the Regional Supreme Winner at the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
The South Island Dairy Event has announced Jessica Findlay as the recipient of the BrightSIDE Scholarship Programme, recognising her commitment to furthering her education and future career in the New Zealand dairy industry.
New Zealand and Chile have signed a new arrangement designed to boost agricultural cooperation and drive sector success.
New DairyNZ research will help farmers mitigate the impacts of heat stress on herds in high-risk regions of the country.
Budou are being picked now in Bridge Pā, the most intense and exciting time of the year for the Greencollar team – and the harvest of the finest eating grapes is weeks earlier than expected.
OPINION: Expect the Indian free trade deal to feature strongly in the election campaign.
OPINION: One of the world's largest ice cream makers, Nestlé, is going cold on the viability of making the dessert.
