Euros Davies - Torro 5100L & 5700L

Harvesting forage with a wagon – user stories - part 3

Contracting from his base near Carmarthen Euros Davies serves a large range of farms over a 15 mile radius. This area of South West Wales has terrific grass growing ability and is home to some of the top Welsh dairy herds. Having been contracting for the last 13 years, starting out with hedge cutting and moving onto muck and slurry handling, Euros had built up a loyal following of local farmers for his services. 4 years into contracting Euros saw an opportunity to add forage harvesting to the services that he offered.

Utilising a self propelled forage harvester Euros soon built the business up to a gang of 7 with an annual silage harvest of 1,500 plus acres a season.

“Whilst the system looked great out in the field it brought with it large fuel, labour and repair bills. I virtually had to have an open cheque book in season to keep it running”.

So 2 years ago Euros took the decision to sell the self propelled forage harvester and invest in a Pottinger Torro 5700L loader wagon. “It was a bit of a gamble. At first most of my customers were a bit wary of wagon silage as they could remember the old machines of 20 plus years ago, but they all backed my decision and were prepared to give it a go”. To say the gamble has paid off for Euros and his customers would be an understatement; so much so Euros has just purchased his second wagon - a Pottinger Torro 5100L for the coming season.

“With the wagon I am operating at speeds of 10-15 km/h. This allows me to fill the wagon quickly, the loads are packed in tight and you don’t suffer with the crop blowing away. We work on some pretty steep ground here but the stability has not been an issue at all and the steering axles are fantastic. I wouldn’t buy a wagon without one - where it will go is amazing. Maintenance too has been incredible. The only thing I have spent money on is grease!”
“For me it means I have my life back, it’s the easiest silage season I have ever done and for my customers it’s been great news too. I have had reports of butter fats increasing from 3.8% to over 5% and average yield increases of 2 litres per cow per day. On top of this my customers are dropping straw from the TMR diet as the 35mm chop length silage produced by the wagon means there is ample structure in the grass to promote good rumen activity”.

But the best news for Euros is that he has not lost one single customer. Now he has other farmers interested in having him in to harvest this year based upon what the wagon silage has done for his existing customers. Asked to sum up what he thinks about the Pottinger loader wagons Euros says he would make only one comment “Can you really afford not to have one?”

Created: 31.08.2007

13.09.2007
Tridem Jumbo loader wagon for 400 members
Drying cooperative drives on three axles

13.09.2007
That was the Ried Agricultural Fair
Pöttinger highlights at the largest agricultural display in Austria

31.08.2007
Euros Davies - Torro 5100L & 5700L
Harvesting forage with a wagon – user stories - part 3

31.08.2007
Landmec Pottinger – Breaking new ground
Report - Tillage workshop August 2007

16.08.2007
Pöttinger at the Ried Fair
We look forward to welcoming you to our stand