Keenan’s huge 280 feeder begins to make an impact locally and abroad
It costs €55,000 to €60,000, inclusive of VAT, and the company expected that this 28 cubic metres monster would sell best for very big farms in their export markets in the UK, US and Australia.
One load feeds up to 200 cows, or up to 500 young beef cattle.
Even for a huge American scale farm, two to three mixes a day in this machine would suffice. In Scandinavia, it seems ideal for a 120 cow farmer who wants to feed once a day.
About 35 machines have been exported from the Keenan headquarters at Borris, Co Carlow, and there are export orders for up to 20 more. But the icing on the cake has been five sales here in Ireland.
The machine is up to 3.5 metres in height, and the farmer who has bought the model on display at the ploughing championships, Matthew Graham of Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, will apparently build a new cattle shed to suit the dimensions of the 280. Mr Graham has up to 500 cattle to feed.
Weighing 11 tons, the machine carries up to 12 tonnes of feed, and although it can be operated by a 100 hp tractor, up to 130 hp is needed to safely tow the fully laden mixer around farmyards.
The 280 brings to seven the number of the models in the Keenan range.
The 280 represents a 40% capacity increase on their previous top of the range model. In Ireland, the company says, the 140 is the most popular Keenan mixer-wagon.
