Key Questions to Ask When Ordering maize header

The 18 foot SR and 20 foot SR were by far the most popular models built. The machine was designed for use in both wheat and rice. The cross sectional diagram below shows that the rotor feeds the crop back onto draper belts which then feed the material back to an uncovered auger.
The SR was a very successful model and most of the original machines are still in the field today. A strong demand for a wider machine as well as customer concerns over the durability of the draper belts (mostly due to rodent damage incurred over the winter) meant that the SR range was discontinued in .

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The RX was introduced as a dedicated rice header. A steel shaker pan replaced the conveyor belts as a means of transferring the wet heavy rice material from the stripping rotor to the auger. This design proved very successful and durable. Rice Special models featured many stainless and hardened steel components to extend their life expectancy and reduce the long term operating costs of the header. Stainless steel stripping fingers were fitted in , these doubled the finger life expectancy as well as providing advantages in stripping performance.
The RX was produced until by which time it had gained a reputation as the header of choice if you were serious about harvesting rice.

The CX range was released in and was Shelbourne Reynolds first machine aimed at the US prairie wheat farmer. The CX84 (28 foot wide) machine was by far the most popular. The design was shortened from the SR and the rotor placed closer to the auger trough. Crop was moved directly from the rotor to the auger. This design worked very well in dry standing crop conditions although it had limitations when things became lodged damp or tough. These machines had the same gearbox drive as the SR range. Stainless steel "Seed Saver" stripping fingers were introduced in and were a major breakthrough in stripping tougher threshing wheat and durum varieties. When fitted with the cups orientated upwards the seed saver fingers enabled previously un-strippable varieties to be stripped with decreased loss.
The seed saver fingers can be fitted to any of the CX and RX models
The CX range was updated and improved annually until pressure for a variable speed rotor drive, still wider widths and better performance in tough conditions brought its production run to an end in

In after many years of testing and product development it was decided that both rice and cereals could be harvested with the same frame design with just relatively small design differences between ranges. The auger and rotor are placed closer together and grain is moved directly from the rotor to the auger. The deeper flighted larger diameter auger is able to handle more straw than before, this coupled with a larger shear bolt gives both these machines a significant advantage when harvesting lodged crops. A new variable speed drive system was developed which enables the operator to make rotor speed adjustments from the cab.

Extensive field testing proved that a deeper flighted auger sitting in a trough will feed better than a smaller one sitting on a flat pan. It is with this theory in mind the RX shaker pan machine was discontinued in favor of the direct feeding RVS header, this allowed the use of a common main frame with the CVS.
The Variable speed drive system was also introduced from the CVS model which allowed the operator to make rotor speed adjustments from the cab.
The RVS range features more stainless steel than on previous rice special models. The crop deflector, top hood and floor are stainless and the auger flighting and retractable auger fingers are made from hardened steel.

Larger capacity combines and larger scale farming prompted the development of the XCV range. The initial model was the XCV 42, this was then followed in with the XCV32 and XCV36.
The new machine incorporates 3 stripping rotors with two equally spaced division plates. A two piece auger is used with a central joint.
New features include a spring loaded pivoting adaptor plate and gauge wheels. All XCV machines are centre mounted on the combine feeder house.

• High energy, high starch
• Cattle and sheep adapt to it easily in rations
• Palatable
• Consistent feed value

Cattle fed rations containing maize silage tend to have a higher dry matter intake (DMI) than those fed rations based solely on grass silage. This extra DMI leads to higher energy intakes and should improve daily performance and feed efficiency when offered as part of a balanced diet.

The digestibility of maize remains fairly consistent throughout the growing season. As the crop matures, the quality of stem and leaf declines, but this is offset by the increase in grain in the cob, which is highly digestible and high in starch. This is why harvesting at the correct stage is essential to maximise nutritional value.

Generally, the mineral content of maize silage is relatively low, so supplementation is required. Check with a mineral supplier/nutritionist for appropriate specifications to add to maize-based diets for cattle and sheep. Maize also has a low protein content, so it should be fed with reasonably high-protein feeds.  

Having an accurate nutritional analysis of conserved forages is essential when formulating rations so that they are used appropriately, accurately and cost-effectively. Six weeks after harvesting, take several core samples from the clamp for testing. Continue to test samples from the clamp face throughout the season, as feed value continues to change in the months after harvest.

Feed values for different forages

Feed type

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Dry matter (%)

Metabolisable energy (MJ/kg DM)

Crude protein (% in DM)

Starch (% in DM)

*Crude protein may be higher for cereals grown with bi-crops (e.g. peas, clover, vetches)

Factors affecting the yield and feeding value of maize silage

In southern England and the Midlands, maize grain is grown for crimping or whole cob maize, also known as ground ear maize (GEM). This is ensiled to feed as a concentrate, either conventionally combined with a maize ‘header’, or the whole cob is foraged through a forage harvester.

DM content

The optimum DM content of the grain for crimping at harvest is 65–70% and 60–65% for GEM, which is higher than for maize silage. Therefore, harvest is typically three to five weeks later, further restricting the areas where it can be grown. Choosing an early maturing variety is essential. Grain yield and standing power are also important characteristics to look for when buying seed.

The process of crimping or ‘milling’ through a forager for GEM breaks the outer seed coat of the kernel and reduces the particle size. This increases its digestibility and reduces any loss of grain through poor digestion.

Starch

Maize grain contains more starch and energy than other cereal grains and has a relatively high level of bypass starch. This travels through the rumen undegraded and is digested further down the digestive tract. This reduces the speed of fermentation and minimises possible dietary upset in a mixed cereal diet.

Protein

As with maize silage, additional protein, in particular effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP), is required to provide a well-balanced diet, along with a source of ‘long’ fibre to promote healthy rumen function.

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