WITH labour availability on farms a major issue these days, farmers are switching to new technology to fill the void particularly so when it comes to feeding livestock.

With this in mind, Dutch feeding machinery manufacturer, Trioliet, has just launched its latest high tech self-propelled diet feeder, the Triotrac M.

The main advantage of a self-propelled feed mixer is that it is actually a four-in-one machine carrying out the loading, mixing, transport and dispensing by the one unit and one operator saving time and labour.

If a farmer uses a trailed feed mixer, it also requires a tractor, plus a telescopic handler or tractor with front end loader, along with a silage extraction system.

Powered by a diesel engine, the new Triotrac M, has a 14m3 load capacity and incorporates one vertical auger and a cutting-loading system with rotor to load the feed into the mixing tub.

This unique system ensures that the feed is processed cleanly and without losing any during the loading process. The Triotrac M can extract silage from the storage pits at heights of up to 4.5m.

As it is a compact machine, that makes it extremely agile and suitable for low buildings, or in cramped yards.

Trioliet said the Triotrac M would be fitted with a cross conveyor belt at the rear, or discharge doors on both sides. It can process round or square bales, loose by-products, mineral feed and even fodder beet or potatoes.

The loading arm pushes the feed into the mixing tub via the loading platform, where the built-in weighing system calculates the quantity of feed in the mixing tub and therefore knows immediately how much has been loaded.

The rotor transports the feed to the mixing tub, where the mixing auger mixes the feed in the same direction. Once the feed is in the mixing tub, it is cut to a smaller size (as required) by the Trioform auger knives and mixed into a uniform ration.

For operator comfort, the spacious cabin’s height can be adjusted to ensure it is always optimal, plus a single joystick on the armrest is used to control the machine and all settings for loading, mixing and discharging feed can be adjusted with this.

For the Triotrac M, the diesel engine is located at the rear of the machine, ensuring it is easily accessible for maintenance.

It also has a small turning circle as a result of its four-wheel steering, which makes the Triotrac M especially easy to manoeuvre between livestock houses and silos.

That's also helped by7b the fact that it can travel at speeds up to 35km per hour and has a hydraulic front axle suspension for greater operator comfort.