A SOLAR-POWERED mobile feed dispenser unit has been launched by Connacht Agri Supplies Ltd.

The company says the Feedsman, pictured above, can be programmed to dispense precise amount of concentrates or meal on a regulated one to six feeds a day basis.

The patented system also incorporates a siren to encourage animals toward the feeder at dispensing time.

Feedsman can be filled either by blower, gravity feed systems or from bags, and the computerised system can save time and labour, particularly where stock are reared off-farm or in outlying areas.

The unit is available in a range of sizes from 1.5 tonnes to five tonnes. The solar panels are guaranteed for 25 years and the 12-volt battery is designed to last between five to eight years.

The dispensers are individually built to match the needs of each customer and can operate for one month without any daylight.

Managing director Seamus Hession said on-farm trials showed the dispenser was suitable for beef and dairy animals and could be used in outdoor or indoor systems.

He said: “With the ever increasing cost of feed, customers are benefiting from Feedsman delivering the precise amount of concentrate ration to their animals.

However, the dispenser is not a replacement for good stocksmanship and animals should still be observed as part of the daily routine.”

Prices for the Feedsman start at £3,900 plus VAT exyard, including a full 24- month parts warranty. For details, go to connachtagri.ie.