Processing Round Bales for TMR Mixers

LEO TMR mixers excel at processing round bales into Total Mixed Rations (TMR). The LEO advantage comes from the two piece knives,  sidewall design, auger reliefs and v shape leading auger edge, hockey stick kicker, and simply mixes faster due to the many knives on the machine. LEO machines boast the most knives on the auger and the only machine with restrictor plates in the sidewall that are knives themselves. (Please see the LEO Patent Section that covers LEO Patents)

  Here’s a guide to ensure smooth operation:

  • Mixer Size: Consider bale size, type, and moisture content. Denser bales (hard core) require more space than lighter ones (soft core). LEO offers various mixer sizes to accommodate your needs.
  • Processing Stages: Initially, bales are chopped coarsely, requiring more space than the final, denser mix. A mixer sized for the final mix volume might overflow during initial processing.
  • Bunching: Coarse forage may bunch in one end of a TMR mixer initially until preocessed down. A larger mixer reduces spillage risk.

Choosing the Right LEO Mixer:

  • Use the table (Table: 1) to estimate the minimum mixer size for your bale volume, quantity and size.
  • For example, processing two 1.2mx1.5m (4’x5′) bales requires a minimum 6.7 cubic meters of space. (2 X 6.7=13.4)  A LEO 7012 might be too small, while a LEO 7014 would work better.
  • Example 2: processing one 1.2mx1.5m (4’x5′) bales requires a minimum 6.7 cubic meters of space. (1 X 6.7=6.7)  A LEO 7006 VT might be just too small, while a LEO 7008VT would work better.

Remember: A properly sized LEO mixer allows for efficient TMR production from round bales with minimal spilliage.