Silage facer design
Hoover’s first design used chains to drive the drum. It didn’t take real long to figure out the chains were an unhandy maintenance issue, and he designed a hydraulic direct drive system.
The direct drive system is the most popular and is available in 2 styles. Payloader and skid loader.
Payloader versus skid loader defacer models
The payloader silage facer models are built to handle side stress. Since payloaders swing as they steer, zoned-out employees can side knock the bunker walls. We build the payloader units to take a severe battering from the sides.
The skidloader bunker facers are built to handle the stresses skid loaders give them without weighing too much.
Silage Rakes
Silage rakes work. However, they make it harder to take a small amount off the bunk face than our rotary units. Stay with the rotary silage facer style for the smoothest feed surface, which gives the least oxygen penetration.
Silage facer versus silage defacer
It’s a terminology thing. Some dairymen call them silage defacers; others know them as facers or bunker facers. It’s all the same, and your cows will appreciate you in the hot weather regardless.