NEWSLETTER - Australian Fodder Industry Association

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AFIA Newsletter September 2006 10
Super Conditioners - Muck or Magic? Since the introduction of super conditioners, farmers and contractors have debated their effectiveness. A recently competed research project has addressed the issues of costs and effectiveness of super conditioning on hay. The consultancy company, Rural Directions coordinated a RIRDC-funded project during last year’s hay making season. The focus was not on recommending the best machine type. A 10-11 tonne/ha crop of Riel oats at Clare in SA was selected for the trial. Each of the 10 0.6 ha plots were assessed for moisture decline from cutting to baling, degree of crushing, windrow structure, dry matter yield, time to baling, hay quality and the overall delivery score and grade. The treatments involved 6 super conditioners and 1 mower conditioner, used at three Machines under test at the Clare. different times: (day of cutting, 2 days after and 4 days after cutting). Ideal weather conditions were experienced during the trial. Moisture decline - There was a distinct fluctuation in moisture between am and pm samplings. This demonstrates the need to check hay regularly to get a true picture of its readiness to bale. Windrow Structure- There were differences between treatments in windrow shape and structure, and also the amount of ‘sag’ in the windrow over time. The earlier treatments tended to sag more than the later treatments. This impacted on air flow and humidity and in the windrow. Hay Colour - All treatments received the maximum colour grade, differences in the combination of curing time and windrow structure resulted in different levels of bleaching. Treatment Roller type Model Front Propulsion Day Speed 1 Small Steel John Deere Sickle bar SP 0 6.5 4995 kmh 2 Smooth Steel/ Smooth John Deere Sickle bar SP 0 5 kmh Steel 4995 3 Steel/ Rubber New Holland Discbine SP 0 8 kmh interlocking 340 4 Broad Ribbed Steel/ Haymax Finger tyned TT 2DAC 9 kmh Smooth Steel pickup 5 Broad Ribbed Steel/ Haymax Finger tyned TT 4DAC 9 kmh Smooth Steel pickup 6 Large Steel/ Large Hydra- Roller pickup TT 2DAC 9 kmh Steel Rubber coated squeeze 7 Large Steel/ Large Hydra- Roller pickup TT 4DAC 9 kmh Steel Rubber coated squeeze 8 Rubber/ Rubber Macerator Finger tyned TT 2DAC 9 kmh followed by Ribbed 6610 pickup 9 Steel/ Steel Rubber/ Rubber Macerator Finger tyned TT 4DAC 9 kmh followed by Ribbed 6610 pickup 10 Steel/ Steel Steel/ Steel interlocking Recon300 Roller pickup TT 2DAC 9 kmh AFIA Newsletter September 2006 11
Page 1 and 2: NEWSLETTER September 2006 Australia
Page 3 and 4: Hay Bale Tagging After a short brea
Page 5 and 6: aled and sold to feedlots to provid
Page 7 and 8: Victoria Brett Radcliffe from Keran
Page 9: Fodder Industry Loses Great Support
Page 13 and 14: Following two very successful bench
Page 15 and 16: The Australian situation The AUD ($
Page 17 and 18: Member Profile: Gary Johnston, Forb
Page 19 and 20: While watching the miles pass by on

NEWSLETTER - Australian Fodder Industry Association

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