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Accident Free Hay Feeding |
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Yet another farm accident involving feeding hay.
Each year the numbers are alarming and disappointing.
Often children are involved.
While acknowledging that some risks will remain whatever system is in place, we believe 'Waste-Not' Fair Go Dairy Feed Pads offer a significant reduction of risk
Let's look at the alternatives
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Out in the paddock |
Fair Go Dairy Feed Pads
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| LABOUR |
Daily job. A '2-person operation or one-man-and-a-risk' was how one farmers wife put it.
Open and shut gate, on and off tractors
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Usually filled with whole rolls/bale/ front end loader full, each 3rd day. One operater.
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| TOPOGRAPHY |
Often steep / rough / slippery
lanes, gateways, hillsides
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Flat, level, close if hay is unloaded or stacked near Feed Pad at dairy
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| SOIL |
Muddy lanes, hills
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Close areas usually all on gravel (or even concrete)
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| MACHINERY NEEDED |
Feed out wagons / carts with moving parts, chains, PTO, pulleys, even cutting blades. Hitching and unhitching Tractors tied up; one tractor for the cart and one to fill it.
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Front end loader
Often smaller tractors (or load with 3 point linkage forks with side of Feeder open)
No moving parts, no tractors tied up
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| LIGHT |
Often after dark after a full days work down dark lanes and paddocks
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Any convenient time especially daytime (each 3rd day). Not dependent on cow rotation or pasture
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| CATTLE INVOLVED |
Cattle usually milling around, pushing and shoving while wrapping removed
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Cows always absent while filling.
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| SILAGE PITS |
Dangers with rolling stacks or pits
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Opens possibility of big square stacked silage
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CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGERS
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Climbing on and off moving tractors and utes.
Driverless tractors and utes
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Stay on tractor until job is complete
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BIG SQUARE BALE STACKED SILAGE
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Difficult to feed out by hand or machine
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Drop into Fair Go Dairy Feed Pad or Feeder for big square bale every 3rd day. Cart long distances economically.
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