800 Series - 270 Single Screw Vertical Feed Trailer Mixer Success Story
"…there’s no wasted hay, no sorting, and the cows eat more…"
(L to R) Mike Taylor & Ross Putney of Taylor Valley View Farm, Washington, VT.
Over the years, five generations have contributed to the success of Taylor Valley View Farm in Washington, VT. Current owners Mike Taylor and his nephew Ross Putney are milking 50 cows and raising 50 youngstock on this organic dairy.
Up until three years ago, feeding their 100-head herd was a pretty daunting task. Using a wheelbarrow and pitchfork, it took about 1 ½ hours to feed three bales by hand. This labor-intensive chore became even more difficult in the winter as they struggled to feed frozen bales.
In July of 2009, the men decided that a change was in order. It was time to visit their local Patz Dealer, New England Farm Systems Inc. of Williamstown, VT, to find a better way to feed their herd. With their Patz Dealer’s assistance, Mike and Ross invested in a 270 cu. ft. Patz 800 Series Single Screw Vertical Mixer.
Taylor Valley View Farm processes 1,000 bales each year to feed its 100-head herd!
Today, they are happy to report that feeding is no longer a time-consuming, labor-intensive task. Since saying goodbye to the wheelbarrow and pitch fork, Mike and Ross process 4 x 4 bales with their Patz Mixer and then use a feed cart to deliver the thoroughly chopped baleage to their herd. From starting the mixer to feeding the last cow, total feeding time has been reduced to an hour a day. Plus, the men are able to complete other chores while the mixer is processing.
Ross said that they most appreciate the mixer during the winter months. The extremely difficult job of feeding frozen bales by hand is now accomplished by their Patz Mixer, quickly and with ease. They have also used the mixer to process dry hay for bedding.
Each year, Taylor Valley View Farm’s Patz Mixer processes about 1,000 bales to feed its herd. With so many bales to feed, adding an optional hay retainer chain to their mixer has proven to be another excellent decision. They are saving time, labor, and hay because of it. "I don’t baby the mixer. I process two bales at once instead of one at a time. It makes a big difference," Ross stated.
When feeding bales by hand, Mike and Ross were frustrated by the amount of hay wasted due to sorting and refusals. The thoroughly processed baleage delivered by their Patz Mixer has eliminated these issues. According to Ross, "The cows used to leave some hay behind. Now there’s no wasted hay, no sorting, and the cows eat more."
On a dairy, there’s no time for downtime. To keep Taylor Valley View Farm running smoothly, Mike and Ross require a feeding method they can rely on. They found just what they were looking for in the Patz 800 Series Vertical Mixer. "All we do is start the mixer. It’s a quality machine and does what it’s supposed to do. It’s never broken down in the 3 years we’ve owned it," Ross said. At 1,000 bales per year, their Patz Mixer has processed 3,000 bales…and counting!
Mike & Ross have peace of mind knowing they can count on their Patz 800 Series Vertical Mixer for reliable performance and New England Farm Systems Inc. for superior service in the years to come. In addition to gaining priceless peace of mind, the men have experienced an excellent return on their investment. As Ross concluded, "It’s worth everything it cost. We wouldn’t do without it."
SEEING IS BELIEVING!