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Frank Dowling runs a busy spring calving herd in Freshford, Co. Kilkenny. He is feeding his dairy cows with a MechFiber360, his third KEENAN machine, during the winter and around June for buffer feeding. “One year, I forgot about servicing the machine and a bearing went. It was in the middle of winter, the machine was needed every day and I could not have done it without it,” says Frank. Since then, Frank gets his KEENAN serviced every year at the end of summer to have the machine ready for winter feeding. “A regular service avoids downtime for the machine...

To achieve the MechFiber mix quality with a machine of any age and avoid downtime, we have put together a checklist to keep your KEENAN in a good condition. Do you need replacement parts? Does the machine need to be relined? Should you exchange it for a newer model? By getting your machine checked and serviced regularly, you can ensure reliability and avoid any technical issues. A correctly serviced machine will have a better chopping and mixing performance. This reduces the power requirements and fuel consumption, extends the working life and helps to maintain the value of your machine. A...

Please take 5 minutes to self-assess your mix! Checklist for KEENAN diet feeder performance Mix quality Check that the length of your mix is 4-5 cm. The consistency should be identical between loads Cow signals Check that your cows are getting the most from their feed (i.e., lying down and cudding when they are not eating or drinking) Dung Check that the dung is firm and forms a thick dome pat. This is a sign of good rumen health. The dung should not be too watery Feed refusals Ensure that minimum feed is refused. If there is feed left over,...

Unprecedented increases in farm input prices, mainly feed, fertiliser and energy, has created a lot of concern for farmers throughout Europe. Predictions that were made early in the year have now been further revised due to the conflict in the Ukraine and its financial and supply repercussions. While farmers are worried there is a lot of evidence to suggest that they should be optimistic on some aspects as well. Milk price and beef prices increases Dairy farms have seen milk price reach 50 cents per litre (c/l) base price with some farms receiving over 60c/l based on their solids. The...

Author: Michael Collins, Irish Farmers Journal To keep your diet-feeder going when you have hungry mouths to feed, Michael Collins gives a few pre-winter tips. In some areas, stock are housed full-time, with others still out by day. Whatever the case, here are a few tips to ensure your diet feeder stays going when you need it most. Before any service work is conducted, the machine should be parked on level ground with either the handbrake applied or chocks put to the wheels. Also, the tractor should be turned off with its handbrake applied. Hitch Check the eye of the...