JWA Jeffery farms near Sudbury in Derbyshire, and its 864 shredder-bedder is now the farm’s fourth such machine from the Kverneland stable. This latest model has been on-farm for three years, chosen for its body size, and option of low-level, non-rotating spout.
The farm has several low-fronted sheds that were built with a 9ft roof height. While still perfectly serviceable for livestock, modern equipment has grown, and high-level rotating spouts weren’t ideal. Thankfully Kverneland – through Battlefield Machinery - could supply to the Jeffery’s spec.
Inside the 864 is an electrically operated comb above the rotor, which drops down to control the speed of material heading to the blower. Operator Joe West says he runs the comb in its lower position most of the time, to maintain a consistent feed.
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Joe West says the 864 has a powerful throw, making the most of chopped straw. |
With a two-speed gearbox, the 864 lends itself to feeding duties, though the farm uses it exclusively for straw, processing two 1.2m square bales every day. In low gear, the 864 can be used to drop straw by the feed barriers and then feed meal on top of straw, when finishing cattle.
“We put it in low gear for that, and it works nicely, without blasting straw all over the place,” says Joe West. “It leaves a nicely presented row.”
The 864 has a straightforward control box, and also benefits from external controls which Joe says are used when loading bales and cutting strings. The farm keeps an eye on belt and bed chain tension, but otherwise considers the shredder-bedder to be a very low maintenance machine, and is still on its original blades.
