The purpose of this webpage is to capture and understand various methods/components of the feed center involved in loading TMR mixers as well as unloading TMR mixers, trucks and other delivery vehicles for a more efficient feed center that accommodates various needs.
Unloading trucks into flat storage
Using a dump and augur, this system works well for grain products in meal and pelleted forms. In the feed mill example below, the pictures show an auger with doors that drop different commodities over different bays. The doors on the auger are on a pulley system to unload over the desired bay.
Unloading cottonseed
In this feed mill example, a belt system is used to unload cottonseed. This allows farms to be able to bring cottonseed in on hopper bottoms, which can often save up to $40/ton over live bottom trailers. The person unloading climbs the hopper bottom trailer and drills out towards the augers to get the cottonseed flowing.
Considerations
At least 70’ (21 m) is required between bays and the entryway to efficiently deliver into 12-15′ (3.7-4.6 m) wide bays in enclosed commodity buildings. Less space may be required with wider commodity bays.
Other things to keep in mind with this type of system:
- Turning radius for trucks
- Temporary parking areas for tag trailer units
- Overhead clearance for dump trucks/trailers
- Reinforcement/protection of building and bays from damage by trucks and loaders
Unloading trucks into bins
There are several scenarios that could fall within this unloading system. Below are a few common examples:
- Dump pit and lift leg into distribution head (whole grain, meal, or pelleted feed forms)
- Auger from truck into bin (whole grain, meal, or pelleted feed forms)
- Pneumatic delivery from truck into bin (whole grain, meal, or pelleted feed forms)
- Pump delivery from delivery tank into storage tank (liquid feed form)
Considerations
- Limitations to lift leg
- Density of meal form feeds
- Minimum percent grain, grain product, or protein meal required
- Maximum % of mineral components (“rock”)
- Limitations to pneumatic transfer
- Density of meal form feeds
- Minimum percent grain, grain product, or protein meal required
- Maximum % of mineral components (“rock”)
Farm example with automation
Commodity/grain delivery vehicles can drive over an unloading area and dump commodities. This works with live bottom, hopper bottom, or auger trucks. Grain travels up the belt into the leg system where it can be directed to a wet bin for grains coming from the field to later be directed to the dryer or to the commodity bins next to the feed center to feed into a stationary mixer.
The Meyer reloader allows for feeding of two sites that are a significant distance apart from one another. The TMR can be mixed normally and then transferred into a delivery truck, which is designed better for road travel than a mixer.
Roto-mix delivery semi-trailers range in size from 30-40’ (9.1-12.2 m) and 1,425-1,900 cu ft (40-54 cu m). A link to a truck mounted commercial feeder box can be found here.
Unloading vs. mixer wagon
Often the mixer wagon is used to mix ingredients into a premix on-farm. Common methods are unloading on-farm premix via rear dump door into a pile or storage bag. Another option is unloading on-farm premix via side discharge and then pushing with a loader into pile or storage bay.
Information on this website was compiled by GPS Dairy Consulting as part of their FeedFIT program. Company links and mentions do not indicate endorsement by The Dairyland Initiative, the University of Wisconsin, or GPS Dairy Consulting. They have been included for informational purposes only.