A straw chopper can reduce the time spent bedding calving pens and calf sheds, but it’s a sizeable investment.
A new machine costs between €20,000 and €30,000, so farmers will have to weigh up whether the time and effort saved are enough to justify the cost.
The time-saving can be particularly valuable for an owner-operator who doesn’t have the option of bringing in extra staff.
That’s especially true in spring, when calving and calf rearing come on top of all the usual daily jobs.
As well as saving time, a straw chopper makes bedding less physically demanding by taking away the need to shake out each bale by hand.
Dairy Day
I’m reserving judgement for now on whether a straw chopper is worth the investment.
At Dairy Day this Saturday 14 November, I’ll give my verdict with the help of Niall Maloney, a dairy farmer from Limerick, and Conor Hogan, a people and labour specialist with Teagasc.
We’ll score this investment, as well as the previous nine ideas out of 10 to decide which offers the best labour-saving investment for dairy farmers.
You’ll also be able to have your say by voting in the labour-saving demonstration area.
Get your tickets here.
