LIVESTOCK: JH Agro is currently developing an overhead bedding system that achieves bedding widths of up to 12m. We’ve been given an exclusive look at the new development.
When JH Agro first marketed the compact, rail-mounted bedding system, the MiniStrø, 20 years ago, it showed the out-of-the-box thinking from the Danish company. Today, a considerable number of those systems, which have a 1,000-, 1,500- or 3,000-litre hopper, are found inside cattle, pig and poultry barns outside of the firm’s native Denmark. In addition to both long and short straw, the MiniStrø bedding systems can also be used to distribute separated slurry or sand. The sales demand for automatic bedding systems for large and deep-bedded sheds is noticeably increasing — but not yet in the UK or Ireland. JH Agro is picking up on this trend and is currently working on its next project, the MaxiStrø bedding robot, which still moves on overhead rails but has a lot more capacity.
Variable spreading width
With its speed-controlled spreading discs, the new machine achieves a variable spreading width of up to 12m. The MaxiStrø takes full bales without the need for a separate splitter or hopper to hold part of the bale as it has done previously. It can handle 1.20m wide and 1.20m high squares, but it can’t process round bales. With an overall length of 8.71m, a maximum of three square bales fit on the 5.90m long bale table. This should be enough for bedding down 500-head of bulls for one day, with each animal requiring about 5kg per day. The Danish manufacturer is currently developing a separate chute for holding enough bales for several days rather than having to refill the machine every day — a significant labour saving plus.
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