ALLIANCE UNLOADERS ENHANCE HARVESTORE PERFORMANCE
FREDONIA, Wisconsin --- In 1996 Brian Huiras increased his herd from 70 to 170 cows. With expansion came a reexamination of his feed storage and handling system.

“For a couple of years I rented a 20 x 60 stave silo from a neighbor and used it for corn silage,” says the 43-year old who farms 350 acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and oats. “I never did like climbing that unit and messing with the unloader. The feed value was much lower. There was some mold around the edges and when the top was exposed to the air it would heat and form more mold. There definitely was feed loss due to spoilage.”

Huiras also tried 9 x 150 storage bags, two lines filled with haylage and corn silage with a moisture content in the 60 percent range.

“This system was so inconvenient,” Huiras explains. “It required two tractors and you always had to fight the weather, rain snow and then mud. It gets so messy and it seems like you are always handling the oil base wet plastic.”

Huiras now uses a 20 x 60 and a 20 x 100 Harvestore for corn silage, one 20 x 80 unit for haylage and a 20 x 90 for haylage. “I prefer Harvestores because of convenience and feed quality,” he says. “There are always consistent moisture levels, which is especially important when filling a TMR to insure proper weights. It’s easier to follow the prescribed recommended ration. Another reason is easy in and easy out, and the cost of maintenance is much lower, especially with the new unloader.

Huiras has three units with an Alliance unloader.
“It’s built strong and the push button control is so easy to use. I can set the rest and advance button according to the moisture level and density of the feed matter. It works perfectly insuring that the motor doesn’t stop or bog down. The feed comes out in a steady flow and you can set the speed discharge according to the capacity of your conveyers. That feature is so efficient,” he adds.

With the push button control, Huiras can set how fast he wants the arm to advance to slice into the feedstuff.

“For 65 percent corn silage, you set the advance knob on ten and the rest knob on one,” he explains. “The feed actually flows out faster than the conveyer capacity. On 52 percent haylage, which is more densely packed, the advance knob goes to two and the rest knob is at six. All you hear is click, click, and then clean out, then rest. With the old unloader and ratchet there was constant pressure on the feed. Now the swing arm advances, cleans out, advances and cleans out. There is so much more capacity.”

“You don’t have to baby sit the Alliance unloader. You can be attending to other chores,” he adds.
Huiras has help from his wife Pam, and children, Ashley, Chelsea, Brian Jr., and Alexandria. Brian went to Lake Shore Technical College in 1981 in the dairy herd management program. He purchased the farm from his Dad, Alois Jr., in 1988. The herd average is 72 pounds of milk per cow per day.

In 1996 Brian went from feeding in a stanchion barn to free stalls. He remodeled three machine sheds to accommodate 172 head and built the new parlor. At that time he added soybeans to the crop rotation and switched to minimum tillage.

He was feeding straight alfalfa baled hay and haylage. Now it is 60-40 haylage and corn silage. He works with an LPS feed consultant who recommended this mix because he needed more energy in the ration. Production has increased 10 pounds of milk per cow per day. The highest producers receive 34.7 pounds of corn silage, 23.6 pounds TMR protein 12T, 22.0 pounds of haylage, and 2 pounds of dry hay per day. He has no grain storage and feeds dry commodities and a custom grain mix.

Feed quality from the Harvestores is important to herd health, he feels.

“Cows don’t get bellyaches and there are fewer ulcer formations on their feet. It’s all due to a drier TMR. In the winter, the feed content remains the same every day,” he says.

“The Harvestore can be filling and it doesn’t alter or change your cows feed intake. That is the biggest thing between a concrete silo and a Harvestore. With a Harvestore it only takes two people to fill it. As you add bigger equipment you become more efficient. I don’t have frozen feed and when it is 20 below I just hit the button and feed flows out,” Huiras adds.“If someone took the Harvestore away from it would result in pure panic. I would want to know where and how I sill store my feed? How do I stay in business and for how long? Basically you can come and pick up the cows tomorrow!”