Adding value to forage with a Kubota mower conditioner

Mowing 600 acres of grass each season to produce hay for livestock and equestrian markets, Basildon, Essex-based JM Frood & Son of Old Hall Farm, puts its faith in a Kubota DMC 6336T mower conditioner.

So much so that the farm has recently taken delivery of an identical, replacement model for the 2026 season.

“We have a lot of rough marshland grass that can only be grazed or cut, but it does produce a useful crop for hay,” explains Andrew Frood of the 2,000-acre, family run mixed farm.

“And this type of land gives our kit a hard time – particularly the mower. It is why we have always chosen to replace our grass kit every three years.”

“The build quality is great, and that’s why we’ve had no hesitation in replacing it for an identical model,” says Andrew Frood © Kubota UK

Old Hall Farm’s latest experience with a DMC 6336T mower conditioner though, has bucked the trend with its replacement policy.

“After three years, the mower showed little sign of deterioration, so we ran it for a fourth season to further reduce the cost of ownership,” he says.

“The build quality is great, and that’s why we’ve had no hesitation in replacing it for an identical model. The only change was a hydraulic folding end-guard.”

He says other than turning blades every 200 acres and yearly servicing, the DMC’s running costs have been almost non-existent.

“I put it down to the QuattroLink suspension that lets the bed glide over undulating ground,” he says.

“It operates so smoothly and means impact damage is eliminated, as is bed skid wear. The three-bladed discs leave an extremely tidy finish, and the semi-swing steel tine conditioner creates a great result with wilting.”

Grass is spread at full width off the conditioner hood, though the farm also has a 9m Kubota TE8590 eight-rotor tedder to shorten drying times, if needed.

Depending on the season, Old Hall Farm produces around 5,000-10,000 conventional bales and up to 10,000 big square bales, with a high proportion of the six-string bales being 200kg, 1m-long for equestrian customers.

“We do consume a lot of hay ourselves over winter, fattening calves from our 180-cow Simmental and Stabiliser suckler herd,” he adds.

“The focus on quality forage as part of a TMR feed with our own milled cereals is helping our stock to achieve live weight gains of around 1.5kg/day through winter.”

Read more in issue 5 of Kubota’s Let’s Talk magazine.