Silage-making efficiency

adds stability with milk volumes and quality.

The 360-acre farm aims to mow 200 acres for first cut, with up to three further cuts taken during the season, where weather and regrowth allows. A neighbouring contractor picks up 100 acres/day, which sets the benchmark for output and timings.

An increase in mowing performance has improved dry matter and boosted ME values according to Staffordshire dairy farming business LTL Partners.

“Since swapping to a pair of Vicon 732 front and rear mower conditioners from a trailed machine, we’ve more control of wilting and ultimately our silage quality,” explains Alex Ede who farms at Lower Tean Leys near Stoke-on-Trent with wife Felicity pictured, above, and father-in-law Tony Prince.

“Where it used to take most of the day to mow all our silage ground, it can now be done in much less time,” explains Alex.

Supplied by JA Bloor Agriservices, the Vicon Extra mowers use a threebladed triangular disc, with the front-mounted 732FT model being pulled – not

QuattroLink for ultimate comfort EXTR∆ 700 Mower Conditioners

Vicon EXTR∆ 700 series

pushed - by its linkage. The rear-mounted 732T mower uses QuattroLink suspension, with contour following and stubble height for both units said to be impressive.

With 235 cows going through the parlour, LTL Partners relies heavily on high quality forage to maintain milk production. While cows are turned out during the grazing season, a supplementary feed ration

“We also have Vicon Andex twin rotor rake and a Vicon Fanex 10m tedder, so there’s flexibility available to us depending on the volume of grass mown, and the prevailing weather conditions,” he adds.

“Importantly, there’s now more opportunity to consistently achieve our 27-28% dry matter target,” he says.

The EXTRA 700 series mower conditioners bring new features to mounted mower conditioners, and are available as rear-mounted T and frontmounted FT models. With an ideal combination of suspension, the 700 series delivers accurate cutting performance from its three-bladed discs.

ProLink three-dimensional suspension provides maximum protection of the cutterbar during operation and offers excellent ground tracking, stability and even ground pressure.

SemiSwing steel tine conditioner offers two working speeds, to suit different crop conditions.

The NonStop BreakAway system lets each mowing unit move backwards and upwards, reducing the impact.