Claas has added two new models- the MCC Max and MCC Shredlage to its Multi Crop Cracker roller range for the Jaguar forage harvesters.
Both units feature special roller profiles that allow the intensive conditioning of silage with medium to long chop lengths from seven to 30mm.
Landpower Claas Greenline group product manager Luke Wheeler says the new models will allow silage contractors to meet rising demand for longer chop lengths for dairy cow forage.
He adds the new MCC Max roller has been developed for conditioning maize silage with adjustable chop lengths of between seven and 22 mm.
Its rollers feature a sawtooth profile and 30 annular segments each.
“The positioning and special geometry of the annular segments ensures that forage is processed using a mix of friction, cutting and shearing forces,” Wheeler says.
“This high level of conditioning provides a significantly larger surface area for bacteria to act upon and thus optimises the fermentation process.
“Long-chop forage has been shown to have a positive effect on milk production and animal health via improved starch digestibility and creating a more stable rumen environment.”
On the other hand, the MCC Shredlage cracker has been designed to intensively condition maize with a long chop length of 26 to 30 millimetres.
Its rollers feature a sawtooth profile and a counter-rotating spiral groove.
“This unit splits corn kernels and rips the stalk into planks and strings, enhancing the amount of effective fibre and exposing the inner cells of the plant to microbial activity.
“Many dairy farmers in the USA and now also in Germany are already feeding Shredlage silage to their animals with great success.
“One study conducted by the University of Wisconsin in Madison confirmed this process significantly improves digestibility and increases milk production by up to 2 litres per day.”
MCC Max and MCC Shredlage are available on all new Jaguar forage harvester models or can be retrofitted to Jaguar 980, 970, 960, 950 and 870 models.
The new units complement the existing MCC M (medium roller diameter) and L (large roller diameter) rollers, which produce short-cut silage with chop lengths of four to 12 mm.
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