CONSIDERATIONS
The choice of equipment is one of the most important decisions in the whole bush feed process. Here's some of our advice:
Don't make an emotional decision.
If you've waited until a drought has arrived and have now begun to look for suitable equipment, you might let stress, fear, uncertainty, or other emotions influence your decision. Good equipment is very scarce during a drought because the demand is so high. Lots of lower-quality machinery becomes available in the market during these times, and farmers who purchase these machines struggle later to make the machines perform their intended jobs.
Don't overspend on equipment.
There are many wonderful bush-harvesting machines available that cost thousands of dollars. Always ask yourself if it is feasible to make your money back, and if so, how long it would take. If you spend N$3M on equipment, wouldn't it perhaps be better to sell some of your animals at a loss instead?
The limiting factor of your operation is the time it takes to gather and put it through the machines.
The capacity of a machine is often used as a benchmark, but the limiting factor is getting the bush together and through the machine quickly enough. To determine your equipment needs, first determine how much bush per day is needed for your operation. If you need to process less than approximately 600kg of bush per day, then a decent hammer mill could be sufficient on its own. For more bush, a chipper and a hammer mill (or chipper/mill combination) should be considered.
Equipment-wise, your first priority is something that makes the bush fine.
When considering the equipment needed for your operation, remember that the entire bush-to-feed process hinges on making the bush fine enough for the animals to eat and properly digest. Depending on the individual needs of your operation, prioritize a good hammer mill, woodchipper, or both. Below, you can find more info about how to determine your machinery needs.
EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW
Here's an overview of the machinery and methods involved in the boskos process.
Harvest Machines and Methods
Ax and machete: This is the cheapest method, but it is labor-intensive.
Chainsaw: It is often difficult to get a chainsaw under trees and bushes. The chain must be sharpened every time the saw's fuel tank is filled, otherwise the life of the chain is drastically shortened. Personnel that use the chainsaw must be very well-trained and should wear protective clothing.
Brush cutter: This machine looks like a weedeater that would be used in the garden, except it has a fixed blade. Personnel that use the brush cutter must be very well-trained and should wear protective clothing. Maintenance of the machine is fairly expensive.
Backhoe: This is an expensive machine, and its tires can easily be damaged between the stumps in the field. The advantage with a backhoe is that the bush roots also get pulled out of the ground so the bush cannot grow back. However, a backhoe doesn't work for bushes with taproot systems like sicklebush.
Industrial cutting machines or clippers: These machines can be considered for large, industrial operations, but they are not worth the cost for the average farmer.
Chainsaw: It is often difficult to get a chainsaw under trees and bushes. The chain must be sharpened every time the saw's fuel tank is filled, otherwise the life of the chain is drastically shortened. Personnel that use the chainsaw must be very well-trained and should wear protective clothing.
Brush cutter: This machine looks like a weedeater that would be used in the garden, except it has a fixed blade. Personnel that use the brush cutter must be very well-trained and should wear protective clothing. Maintenance of the machine is fairly expensive.
Backhoe: This is an expensive machine, and its tires can easily be damaged between the stumps in the field. The advantage with a backhoe is that the bush roots also get pulled out of the ground so the bush cannot grow back. However, a backhoe doesn't work for bushes with taproot systems like sicklebush.
Industrial cutting machines or clippers: These machines can be considered for large, industrial operations, but they are not worth the cost for the average farmer.
Hammer Mills and Woodchippers
Hammer Mill: If you have relatively few animals to feed, you could possibly begin with just a hammer mill. Make sure that the hammer mill has blades that cut the bush as it goes into the machine before it is hammered. Also, make sure the hammer mill can mill green bush. Some hammer mills become obstructed if the bush is green.
Woodchipper: If more than 600kg of bush per day is needed, you should consider a woodchipper. It would be ideal to get a combination machine that chips and mills in one process. Remember that each machine that runs separately needs energy as well as manpower. Using a combination machine lowers the required handling of the bush, which significantly lowers both energy and labor costs. Watch out for salespeople that try to convince you that the bush out of their chipper will be fine enough to feed directly to the animals. The ground product should look like woolly shredded grass, not like twigs.
Woodchipper: If more than 600kg of bush per day is needed, you should consider a woodchipper. It would be ideal to get a combination machine that chips and mills in one process. Remember that each machine that runs separately needs energy as well as manpower. Using a combination machine lowers the required handling of the bush, which significantly lowers both energy and labor costs. Watch out for salespeople that try to convince you that the bush out of their chipper will be fine enough to feed directly to the animals. The ground product should look like woolly shredded grass, not like twigs.
Feed Mixer
This is definitely one of the last pieces of equipment that should be purchased. You can get very far by hand-mixing on a cement floor. Spread everything out in thin layers on a clean, even surface and mix with shovels.
Pelletizer (pill machine)
A pelletizer is not required for the average farmer to successfully make bush feed, but it is very convenient to have. Pellets have a longer shelf-life, are better controlled, more easily transported, and make less mess. A pelletizer is necessary, though, for a farmer who would like to begin a commercial feed operation.
EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Tried-and-true equipment that we've tested and recommend to you
Tomcat 250 Chipper
We began testing the Tomcat 250 Chipper in 2013, and we have kept it in our operation ever since. We've had excellent results with this machine.
11kW Jones Hammer Mill
We have tested several hammer mills with milling both wet and dry chipped bush (bush that has been through a chipper). We've seen excellent results from the 11kW Jones Hammer Mill. In one hour, we were able to mill 536.07kg of 15% humidity swarthak chips.
Enquiries: timcoholdings@me.com
Enquiries: timcoholdings@me.com
Jones Pelletizer
We have tested several pelletizers and found that not all machines can successfully press encroachment bush into pellets. Great care should be taken when choosing the correct press. We recommend the Jones Pelletizer. Since 2016, we have used this machine in our operation plant, and we've seen excellent results.
Enquiries: timcoholdings@me.com |
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AGENTS for JONES MACHINERY in NAMIBIA
We trust Jones Machinery.
We've used Jones Machinery in our feed operation for years, and we trust their machines.
If you'd like to know more about the company or their products, check out the links below or send us an email at timcoholdings@me.com.
If you'd like to know more about the company or their products, check out the links below or send us an email at timcoholdings@me.com.
CONTACT US
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info@ankawini.com
timcoholdings@me.com |
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+264 81.475.6395
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Ankawini Safari Ranch
@ankawini_weddings |