The Farmers Mart Feb-Mar 2020 - Issue 67 | Page 75

MACHINERY 75
• FEB/MAR 2020
Ground tracking and forage protec-
tion are the key objectives of the TOP
rotary rakes. An optional jockey wheel
is available (MULTITAST). The jockey
wheel guides the rotors over bumps in
the ground. This ensures that the working
height is always set correctly. You are
now able to drive faster and can achieve
a higher output as a result. The sward is
protected, and the tines last much longer.
The additional jockey wheel is especially
recommended for working on slopes.
This results in cleaner forage, lower
raw ash content and thereby improved
livestock health. The outside tines are
thicker and shorter, so it doesn’t rise up
under load and doesn’t bend and catch
on contour. Without MULTITAST, tines
LAST nowhere near as long.
The MULTITAST wheel was tested by
DLG (German Agricultural Association)
and received the seal of approval in the
“DLG Focus Test”. This was a completely
independent test and they found using
MULTITAST 207kg less soil per hectare
was picked up, that’s 2070 KG per 25
acres, a significant increase in feed
quality!
With so much to take in, this point was
a good time for an all-important break
for sandwiches, refreshments and potato
wedges! Which went down well. Barry
continued the presentation, along with
supplementing input from Shaun.
Pottinger forage wagons comprise 60%
of the UK market and 52% worldwide.
There is a range of self-loading wagons
for every size of farm, from the Faro
loader wagons with feeder combs 20 to
60 ps – ideal for compact tractors, right
Ease of operation as standard
NOVACAT 301 ALPHA MOTION PRO ED
„ 69 mower models – all equipped with quick fit blades as standard
„ Tool Box for blades & operators manual – standard on all POTTINGER mowers
„ Removable Conditioner – Standard on all mounted mower conditioner models
www.pottinger.uk
up to the Rotor Feeder Jumbo Combiline
450 ps. The rotor type feeders mean
a larger amount of grass is collected in
a shorter time. The quality of chop is
again paramount in producing the quality
sileage, ideal size is 34 to 70 mm - too
short and you have reduced rumen
function - too long and you get too much
food intake.
On the smaller models, knives are
easily accessible for sharpening and
maintenance. Knives can be easily
swapped or changed. Sharpening typi-
cally needs to happen three times a day;
on the larger models, which have up to 45
knives, they can be electronically swung
away from the main body for easier
maintenance. Electronic sharpening is
available which creates an enormous
time saving – 45 knives can be sharpened
in 4 minutes!
As mentioned earlier, in 2017 Pottinger
launched their IMPRESS baler range.
They have a full complement of machines
for both fixed and variable sized baling
and variable wrapping. With their Upflow
system, the grass goes over the rotor and
compresses into 20% extra density. Just
think what a 20% saving in bale space
could mean.
Shaun wrapped up the evening with
some giveaways, picked from Pottinger’s
free 2020 competition to win a VIP trip to
Austria, including a full factory tour.
With harvest windows becoming much
smaller, the farmer needs to do everything
he can that will help him save time, whilst
still achieving greater quality. A tall order,
and on the back of tonight’s presentation,
one that Pottinger can fulfil.