|
Western Nebraska | We have been running a Knight for about 5 years now. At most it would get a couple loads mixed a day during the winter feeding season. We have replaced the knives on it and the lifters on the leading edge of the augers. It is a twin screw model. I have been real happy with the simplicity of the machine. The older models had a gear box that drove two bull gears under the augers. That was the extent of the moving parts. It has been completely trouble free. The only repairs we have had were the results of an accident where the conveyor hooked the leading edge of the feed bunk and got removed rather abruptly. Other wise there have been no breakdowns.
As for the mixing, if your knives are sharp and your lifters are in good shape the whole process moves along rather quickly. The things that will slow you down is hard round bales and wet hay. We try to use big squares as much as possible because they break up so quickly. Once the grind is to the level we desire then we put in the grain, feed additives, and finally add enough water to settle the dust and make the ration slightly damp. You cut down your risk of dust pneumonia and can also recapture some of the feed that would normally blow away when you add water. If you try to add water before the hay is ground up you will have a knot of hay that just sets on top of the feed and doesn't get ground.
We used to roll hay out on the ground for our stock cows and calves. Since going to the mixer wagon we wouldn't go back. We have been completely happy with the wagon and would surely consider another Knight when the time comes to upgrade.
| |
|
Vertical TMR's
