Upgrading to an RA2072 twin-rotor rake with hydraulic working width adjustment has boosted baler output and forage quality for one Highlands producer.
From Keppernach Farm, Morayshire, Donnie Kinnaird remains focussed on producing the highest quality haylage he can, primarily to suit a discerning equestrian market. Each season, he makes over 1,500 round bales each year, that are repackaged into small bales, to suit customer requirements.
“Over the years, we’ve adapted our processes and changed machinery, to make the best forage quality we can, for our customers,” explained Donnie Kinnaird. “And last season, we bought a Kubota twin rotor rake from HRN, and it’s been a game-changer for us.” He says the farm’s old rake wasn’t creating the nicest swaths, which meant baler output and bale shape was compromised.
“We unroll all our 1.2m round bales in the barn, then re-bale them into small packages that suit our equestrian customers, he said. “And poorly shaped bales don’t unroll very easily, which makes our work much harder.”
He says that the trailed, RA2072 from the Compact Line offers a 6.2-7.2m adjustable working width, and that has contributed to box-like swaths that are better suited to his baler’s intake. It means every bale is now perfectly cylindrical.
“The swath is now excellent, and fills the baler’s pickup completely,” he said. “It means every bale is easier to wrap properly and far better to stack. But more importantly, they are now really easy to unroll, when we want to repackage them.” Donnie adds that the rake is also very easy to set up. “We don’t cut our grass low, but prefer to leave a reasonable stubble height,” he said. “This means we can rake the crop without getting close to the floor, and this helps to improve forage quality.”
With over-wintered cattle on the farm, he says any bales that are less than perfect are happily devoured by the cattle.
“We’re fussy with our fieldwork, and we do harrow and roll early in the season to get our fields and crops just right,” he said. “We don’t want any contamination in the crop – we only want the best forage for our customers.”
