Improving forage quality with Kubota mower-conditioner.
The arrival of a DMC 6032T mo-co with semi-swing steel tine conditioner has made light work of mowing for one Monmouthshire beef farmer.
With a herd of 50 pedigree Hereford suckler cows and calves, plus a flock of 60 ewes, Scott Coates is focussed on producing the best quality clamp silage he can, supported with round bale hay and haylage to make the most of live weight gains. And that process stepped up a gear in 2024 with the arrival of a Kubota DMC 6032T mo-co, adding operational flexibility and an increased cutting width, to shorten wilting times.
“I never expected to change to a different mower, but there’s lots to like about the Kubota DMC,” he said. “From the three-bladed discs, semi-swing steel tine conditioner and spreading hood, it’s given me a new outlook on how we now make our silage.”
From the 250-acre St Dial’s Farm, Monmouth, silage is made over four cuts, each of up to 50 acres. Where the first two cuts are chopped by a neighbouring contractor with a forage wagon, third and fourth cuts are baled.
“I can leave first and second cut in tight rows, ready to throw out with the tedder before it’s raked and chopped for me, though I do get to pack it into my clamp,” he said. “But the later cuts are now spread wide, straight off the mower. This avoids the need to use the tedder, and is saving me time and money to achieve the right dry matter content.”
Supplied by Hopkins Machinery and complete with a two-year warranty, Scott said the mower is easily driven by his 150hp Kubota M7152 tractor using economy 1000rpm PTO speed. Output is around seven acres/hour.
“The mower isn’t power hungry, so there’s now a fuel saving to be had,” he said. “And with the bed pressure correctly set, the discs glide over the grass. It’s very easy to pull.”
With grassland often chain harrowed and rolled, Mr Coates is keen to ensure his silage grounds are well-prepared, ensuring blade life is maximised.
“We’re definitely improving what we do, and the proof of the pudding is found in what the cows eat,” he said. Having been awarded reserve champion for livestock exhibited at the recent Welsh Winter Fair, it’s hard to disagree.
“When we are unable to graze, having good quality forage helps us to continue producing high quality livestock,” he says.
