“We feed out 10 tonnes a day, twice a day, so we need a good, reliable machine that is going to last,” Rebecca says. “Our old mixer wagon wasn’t able to handle a 10 tonne payload when we added molasses so we started looking at new machines.”
The VF2850 is the largest in the Abbey range – 28m3. It consistently delivers 10 t on the Wallings’ 900-cow farm at Wharepuhunga south of Te Awamutu. They milk twice daily, every day of the year.
“Our old machine was supposed to produce a 10 tonne payload but this was totally dependent on the sort of product you put in. The Abbey can reach the 10 tonne payload with any feed combination.”
Abbey’s twin vertical feeder range is designed to handle tough conditions, and is constructed using the highest grades of materials, Farmgard says.
The machines can handle precision-chop silage, large round or square bales of silage, hay, straw and roots. Additional feed products such as maize and meal can be added at any stage of the mixing process.
Wallings mix mainly maize silage, grass silage, palm kernel and molasses; sometimes straw, minerals, and kiwifruit, apples and bread when available.
“We mix this up twice a day and feed on the feed pad and into feed troughs all year round. It’s a fairly basic diet but it works for our system and is cost effective,” says Rebecca.
The shape of the mixing auger and tub is said to ensure a “perfect” blend of ingredients.
The machine’s Digi-Star weighing system allows consistency of the feed ration and lets the operator know “exactly what’s going on”. The mixed feed is then evenly discharged, with the feed flow rate controlled by a hydraulically operated discharge door.
The VF2850 has a rear self-steering axle allowing it to turn it in a tight circle without having to manoeuvre and back around.
Rebecca and Len Walling are principals of Walling Contractors, servicing the Waikato district. “We know machinery pretty well and the importance of it doing the job efficiently and reliably.”
Abbey also makes slurry tankers and muck spreaders.
Wallings bought the Abbey machine from Waikato Tractors.
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