These machines operate on the same principal as the four auger horizontal mixers, but they are self-propelled and self-loading. They can save time, machinery and labour costs and they can make the feeding process a more accurate operation with less wastage.

A wide chopping head cuts easily through clamp silage leaving the face clean and tidy virtually eliminating silage face deterioration. This same head can also pick up any other ingredient including straw, soya, and cereals. Once collected the ingredients are carried by a rubber belt within the chopping head into the main mixing chamber. This belt can be run in reverse to off-load any overloaded product. The auger within the tub mixes all the products together to give a uniform, fluffy mix, which is then discharged through the guillotine door onto a front conveyor for unloading.

Video cameras can be placed at the top of the mixing chamber with a screen in the cab to enable the operator to see exactly what is happening to the mix. All the usual modern conveniences of a cab are there – comfort seat, air-conditioning, heating, radio and the controls to operate the machine are easy to use.

The engine at the back of the machine is easily accessible for maintenance. The machine is built to the usual RMH high quality standards of strength and reliability. Each machine is built to individual specifications, thus ensuring that the mixer can cope with all the rigours of daily use in a variety of different situations.

These highly specialised machines are used throughout the world. For the UK market they could be used:

• on an individual farm
• for a group of farms on the same estate
• for a group of farmers sharing one machine
• for the contractor

• time in loading the mixer – less travel between ingredients, no waiting for the loader
• machinery costs – no tractor on the feeder and no loader
• labour costs – one person can do the whole feeding job

It may seem a big outlay, but the self-propelled market is growing in the UK and the RMH machines lead the way.