Feed-mixer wagons (FMW) are agricultural machines used for preparing and distributing feed mixtures to animals, primarily cattle. These machines are equipped with mixing systems that ensure consistent mixing of various feed components and even distribution of the feed to the cattle. Additionally, they increase productivity and reduce the need for manual labor. In this study, we examined the operation and technical characteristics of FMWs, as well as the effects of feeding total or partial mixed ration prepared by such machines. We familiarized ourselves with the components of FMWs and the process of preparing total or partial mixed rations. We also reviewed various types of FMWs, their advantages and disadvantages in loading and mixing different types of feed. The key factors that farms must consider when choosing a FMW are the space or barn entrance size, the method of silage storage, and the loading and unloading system. In the experiment, we tested two different FMW models with different methods of filling the mixing chamber, aiming to confirm hypotheses that were established through a review of publications. We found that there were no significant differences in the mixing quality between horizontally and vertically mounted mixing augers. However, we observed that the FMW with a vertically mounted auger performed worse in cutting grass silage compared to the model with a horizontally mounted auger. We also noticed higher fuel consumption by the tractor when working with FMWs with horizontally mounted mixing augers. Additionally, time measurements showed that preparing the feed ration was slower when using a cutting system whit scissor knives. When using a cutter drum and a scissor knives cutter, we achieved a smooth silage face, while the use of a loader and a shear bucket showed poorer results.
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