3 loads down to 2: How SILOKING is saving time on a Tipperary dairy farm

For dairy farmer Peter Farrell from New Inn, Co. Tipperary, making the most of available time and maintaining a consistent feeding routine are important parts of running his spring-calving dairy operation.

Since purchasing a 26m 3 SILOKING TrailedLine 4.0 Premium diet feeder in December 2020, Peter has seen significant improvements in feeding efficiency, with the larger-capacity machine reducing the number of loads required and saving up to two hours of work per day.

Operating a grass-based system, Peter aims to maximise grass utilisation while ensuring cows receive sufficient nutrition when conditions require supplementary feeding.

Peter explained: “We try to maximise grass as much as we can, but there are times when we need to buffer feed the cows to maintain dry matter intakes.

“We use the feeder all winter and again for four to six weeks in spring when cows are going out to grass.

“With the dry summers we’re getting, we’re also finding ourselves feeding during the summer.”

“It shortened our feeding by an hour or two a day. We like to group stock so we can make maximum use of the feeder.

“There’s very little difference in mixing time between a half load and a full load, so we try to fill it.”

Peter feeds his milking cows daily, while young stock and dry cows are generally fed every second day, allowing him to make more efficient use of full loads.

Consistent mixing across different diets

Mix quality is another area where Peter has been particularly impressed, especially when preparing rations for dry cows.

He said: “The feeder is very good at mixing dry cow loads.

“We use a lot of straw, and it gives us a good, even mix every time. That’s what we’re looking for – consistency.”

Peter also believes the quality and consistency of the mix play an important role in cow performance, particularly when supplementary feeding is required.

“You can put whatever you like into it, and it all comes out as a nice, even mix. The cows really perform on it,” he said.

The TrailedLine 4.0 Premium features SILOKING’s twin turbo auger mixing system, designed to move large quantities of feed while preserving forage structure.

The augers incorporate turbo flights to support thorough mixing and efficient emptying.

Peter works with a nutritionist to formulate diets, typically incorporating grass silage, maize silage, straw and a selection of straights.

He explained: “We like to keep things fairly simple.

“The feeder handles all those ingredients and helps us get the best use out of our forages.”

Having previously operated a paddle-type feeder, Peter also appreciates the versatility of the vertical auger system.

“You can throw in bales without having to break them up beforehand.

“Whether it’s straw, hay or silage, it handles them all,” he said.

The machine’s FlowPlus hopper ring helps return material into the mixing process, supporting efficient bale breakdown and reducing the risk of material building up around the top of the hopper.

Practical features that make a difference

Despite moving to a considerably larger feeder, Peter says manoeuvrability around the farm has not been compromised.

“It came with a steering axle, and even though it’s much bigger than our previous feeder, it nearly goes around the passages easier.

“It’s very tidy and straightforward to manoeuvre,” he said.

Another feature Peter particularly values is the in-cab weighing display.

“With the weighing system in the cab, you can see everything clearly.

“You just press a button when moving from one ingredient to the next, and the system does the adding for you,” he explained.

The SILOKING Data weighing system allows operators to monitor ingredient quantities, helping simplify the loading process and maintain consistency between mixes.

Peter also highlights the front conveyor, particularly during summer buffer feeding when smaller quantities must be distributed along longer feed barriers.

He said: “You can really control how much feed you’re putting o