A feed mixer takes your forage, grain, protein and minerals and turns them into one ration the cow can’t sort. That’s the whole job. Every cow gets the same bite, and you stop paying for feed that ends up in the bunk as refusals.
I’ve spent a lot of time on farms watching how people actually feed. The mixer that works isn’t always the biggest or the fanciest. It’s the one sized for the real load, matched to the tractor in the shed, and loaded the same way every day. This guide walks through the feed mixer types, how to size one using real numbers, how to choose, the mistakes I see most, basic maintenance and the questions farmers ask us most often.
What a feed mixer does on a livestock farm
On a dairy, beef or feedlot operation the feed mixer makes a total mixed ration (TMR). You load ingredients by weight, the augers or reel blend them, and you unload the finished mix along the bunk.
Done right, a feed mixer gives you:
- A consistent ration from the first cow to the last, every load.
- Less sorting, so less waste and more even intakes across the pen.
- Real numbers on what you feed, because the scale records every ingredient.
- Bale processing in the same machine if you run a vertical mixer, so there’s no separate tub grinder or bale processor.
- Less labour than feeding ingredients one at a time.
One thing to clear up: farm feed mixers are different from the mixers in a feed mill that blend meal for pelleting. This guide is about the farm machines that mix forage, process bales and deliver feed to the bunk. If you want the background on the ration itself, read what is a TMR and why mixing it beats feeding ingredients separately.
Feed mixer types: vertical, horizontal and reel
There are three common designs. Each has a place.
### Vertical feed mixer
One, two or three vertical augers sit in a tub. The auger lifts feed up the centre and it falls back down the tub wall, over and over. Knives on the auger flighting cut long hay, and side wall knives hold the feed against the auger so it cuts instead of spinning.
- Handles whole round and square bales.
- Open top, so loading is simple.
- Works with high forage rations.
- Easy to size up, which is why the biggest mixers are vertical.
### Horizontal auger mixer
Three or four horizontal augers run the length of the box. Lower augers push feed one way, upper augers push it back. They’re strong on wet, sticky rations, but forage has to be processed first. Whole bales don’t go in.
### Reel mixer
A slow turning reel tumbles the feed with augers underneath. Gentle on particle length and low on power, but forage also needs processing first.
### Which type should you pick?
If you feed round or square bales, or you want one machine to do bale processing and mixing, a vertical mixer is usually the answer. If your ration is all pre-chopped silage and grain, all three types can work. We go deeper on this in vertical mixer vs horizontal mixer and what is a vertical feed mixer and how does it work.
LEO builds vertical mixers only: the mini mixers, the VT twin auger range and the HD heavy duty range.
Single auger vs twin auger
A single auger works well in a smaller round tub. Once the tub gets long, one auger struggles to move feed evenly front to back, and you can get dead spots. Two counter-rotating augers keep the whole tub moving.
- LEO 7003 and 7004 mini mixers: single auger.
- LEO VT range, 6 to 21 m³: twin auger on every model.
- LEO HD range, 14 to 45 m³: twin auger on every model.
More detail in single auger vs twin auger vertical mixers.
Feed mixer sizes: LEO models side by side
Here’s every LEO vertical mixer with the numbers from our product pages. The herd ranges are the Best For ranges we list for each VT model. Treat them as a starting point, because ration density changes the answer.
### Mini mixers
| Model | Capacity | Augers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7003 | 3 m³ / 106 cu ft | 1 | Fewer than 50 head |
| 7004 | 4 m³ / 142 cu ft | 1 | Small, growing herds |
For tractor sizing on the mini mixers, check the mini mixers page or ask us, because the right tractor depends on your ration and how full you run it.
### VT twin auger range
| Model | Capacity | Power | PTO | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7006VT | 6 m³ / 210 cu ft | 50 HP | 540 | 50 to 150 cows |
| 7008VT | 8 m³ / 280 cu ft | 56 HP | 540 | 100 to 200 cows |
| 7010VT | 10 m³ / 350 cu ft | 71 HP | 540 | 150 to 300 cows |
| 7013VT | 13 m³ / 460 cu ft | 92 HP | 1,000 | 300 to 600 cows |
| 7015VT | 15 m³ / 530 cu ft | 107 HP | 1,000 | 400 to 700 cows |
| 7018VT | 18 m³ / 640 cu ft | 126 HP | 1,000 | 500 to 900 cows |
| 7021VT | 21 m³ / 740 cu ft | 145 HP | 1,000 | 700+ cows |
### HD heavy duty range
| Model | Capacity | Power | Discharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7014HD | 14 m³ | 99 HP | Side, truck mount option |
| 7016HD | 16 m³ | 112 HP | Side, truck mount option |
| 7018HD | 18 m³ | 127 HP | Side, truck mount option |
| 7025HD | 25 m³ | 177 HP | Front |
| 7028HD | 28 m³ | 198 HP | Front |
| 7034HD | 34 m³ | 240 HP | Front |
| 7040HD | 40 m³ | 283 HP | Two side |
| 7045HD | 45 m³ | 318 HP | Two side |
All HD models run at 1,000 RPM. Custom commercial builds beyond 45 m³ are available on order.
How to size a feed mixer for your herd
Size by the biggest load you mix, not by herd size alone. Here’s the method I use.
- Find your largest feeding group. If you feed fresh cows, highs, lows and dry cows separately, it’s the biggest of those groups, not the whole herd.
- Work out the as-fed ration per head for that group.
- Multiply to get the weight of one load.
- Divide by the ration density to get the volume. Hay heavy rations are light and bulky. Silage heavy rations are heavier and take less room.
- Leave headroom. A vertical mixer mixes best at about 70 to 80 percent full. Pack it to the top and the mix gets worse, not better.
- Check the loading height against your loader. The 7006VT has a 1,980 mm (78 inch) loading height. The 7014HD has 2,430 mm (96 inch).
If you mix two or three loads per feeding, a smaller mixer can do the job of a bigger one. If you want one load per feeding, size up. For worked examples see how to size a vertical feed mixer and the feed mixer capacity chart.
Tractor power and PTO speed
The mixer has to match the tractor you’ll really hitch to it. Listed power is the minimum the mixer needs to do the job, not a target to aim for.
- VT models up to the 7010VT run at 540 RPM.
- The 7013VT and up run at 1,000 RPM.
- Every HD model runs at 1,000 RPM.
Give yourself extra margin if you feed lots of dry hay or whole bales, mix on slopes, or run the tractor hard for other jobs. Full numbers are in feed mixer power requirements.
Trailed, truck mount or stationary
Most farms run a trailed feed mixer behind a tractor. Every LEO VT and HD mixer comes trailed as standard. A truck mount option is available on the 7014HD, 7016HD and 7018HD for commercial feeding. Stationary installs for central feed centres are part of LEO custom commercial builds. Compare them in trailed, stationary or truck mount feed mixer.
Discharge door and unloading
Where the feed comes out matters as much as how it mixes.
- Side door: standard on all LEO VT models. 610 mm (24 inch) on the 7006VT, 760 mm (30 inch) from the 7010VT up. Standard on the 7014HD to 7018HD.
- Front discharge: 7025HD, 7028HD and 7034HD. Suits big freestall barns with front loading alleys.
- Two side discharges: 7040HD and 7045HD.
See feed mixer discharge options.
Build quality: what to check
Steel thickness decides how long a feed mixer lasts. The floor and lower auger wear first.
| Range | Floor | Walls | Lower auger | Stainless liners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VT (7006VT) | 12 mm | 4 mm | 12 mm | Optional |
| VT (7010VT) | 12 mm | 6 mm | 12 mm | Optional |
| VT (7013VT and up) | 12 mm | 6 mm | 16 mm | Optional |
| HD (all) | 20 mm | 9 mm total incl. 3 mm stainless | 20 mm | Standard |
Ask any seller for these numbers in millimetres or inches. Vague answers are a warning sign. More in stainless steel liners in feed mixers.
Scales and knives
Scales. Every LEO VT has load cells: 3 on most models and 4 on the 7021VT. The HD range has a 4-point scale as standard. Loading by weight is where most feed savings come from. See feed mixer scales explained.
Knives. The 7006VT carries 18 auger knives (8 small, 10 large) and 2 side wall knives. The 7010VT and 7013VT carry 22 (12 small, 10 large). The HD range uses a modular blade system, so you can swap a single worn blade. Sharp knives process hay faster and cut diesel use.
Feed mixer for cattle: beef vs dairy vs feedlot
- Dairy: several groups a day, tight ration control, acidic silage. Prioritise the scale, twin augers and stainless.
- Beef cow-calf: hay heavy, often one load a day. Prioritise bale processing and a tractor match.
- Feedlot: all day use. Prioritise heavy steel and throughput, which is what the HD range is built for.
Common feed mixer mistakes
- Buying on herd size alone without working out the load volume.
- Overfilling. A packed tub mixes worse. See overfilling a vertical mixer.
- Under-sizing the tractor, which means long mix times, more diesel and driveline strain.
- Loading in a different order every day. Use a set order. See TMR load order.
- Overmixing. Extra minutes cut particle length and burn fuel.
- Ignoring the scale. If you don’t check calibration, you don’t know what you’re feeding.
- Running dull knives and making up for it with mix time.
Feed mixer maintenance basics
- Daily: check for foreign objects, look at knives, check the PTO shaft and guards, clean the scale indicator area.
- Weekly: grease points, check tyre pressure, check shear bolts and hardware.
- Seasonal: gearbox oil, auger flighting wear, scale calibration, knife sharpening or replacement.
Full schedule in feed mixer maintenance schedule and what wears first in feed mixer wear parts.
Feed mixer FAQ
### What is a feed mixer used for?
A feed mixer blends forage, grain, protein, minerals and additives into one total mixed ration so every animal eats the same balanced bite. A vertical feed mixer also processes hay bales in the same machine.
### What size feed mixer do I need?
Size by your largest feeding group’s ration volume, running the mixer at about 70 to 80 percent full. As a starting point, the LEO 7006VT (6 m³) suits 50 to 150 cows and the 7010VT (10 m³) suits 150 to 300 cows.
### How much horsepower does a feed mixer need?
It depends on the size and the ration. LEO VT models list 50 HP for the 7006VT up to 145 HP for the 7021VT. HD models list 99 HP for the 7014HD up to 318 HP for the 7045HD.
### Is a vertical or horizontal feed mixer better?
If you feed whole bales or high forage rations, a vertical feed mixer is usually better because it processes hay. Horizontal mixers suit pre-processed, wet rations.
### How long should a TMR mix?
Mix just long enough to get an even blend. The LEO 7003 lists 5 to 8 minutes of typical mixing time and 10 to 18 minutes when cutting roughage. Read vertical mixer mixing time starting points for more.
### Do I need stainless steel liners?
If you feed a lot of silage and mix every day, stainless liners usually pay back in tub life. They’re optional on LEO VT and standard on LEO HD.
### How long does a feed mixer last?
With good maintenance and the right size for the job, a well built mixer gives many years of service. See how long should a feed mixer last.
### What does a feed mixer cost?
Price depends on size, build, options and freight. See how much does a feed mixer cost.
Next step: get the right LEO feed mixer
Look at the LEO VT twin auger feed mixers, the HD heavy duty feed mixers or the mini mixers for small herds. Then find a dealer or contact us. Tell us your herd, your ration and your tractor, and we’ll help you size it right the first time.
