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A I R Y I n i t i a t i v e s N E W S L E
T T E R |
Tractor or Skid Steer? |
LARRY AMUNDSON
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Excel Dairy prefers the versatility, safety, and economic advantage of using a small tractor rather than a skid steer to scrape free-stall barn alleys for our 1,100-cow dairy. Employees also prefer the tractor because getting on and off and visibility is much better. Each machine performs other operations at the dairy, with the tractor mowing lawns during the summer using a 48-inch, three-point PTO mower. Following are the pros and cons for each machine. |
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TRACTOR |
SKID
STEER |
|
|
$14,000 |
<--------------- Cost ----------------> |
$22,000 |
|
6,000-10,000?
hours |
<------------ Useful
Life ------------> |
4,000
hours |
|
Rating:
1 is good; 5 is poor |
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|
1
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Operator
Accessibility
|
--- |
|
1
|
Visibility
Backing Up
|
4
|
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1
|
Damage
Control
|
5
|
|
2
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Maneuverability
|
1
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$240
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Tire
Wear, Operator Cost
|
$1,152
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COST: There is a substantial difference in up-front investment and possibly trade-in value. USEFUL LIFE: Our oldest tractor has almost 7,000 hours. At 6,000 hours we did some major work and now expect to get another 2,000 to 3,000 hours. OPERATOR ACCESSIBILITY: The tractor is easier to get on and off than the skid steer. We have had three workers compensation claims from slips and falls getting on/off the skid steer and none for the tractor. VISIBILITY: The tractor is very easy to turn and look behind while backing up. Our model of skid steer limits visibility when looking behind, and the safety belts prevent a lot of body movement. DAMAGE CONTROL: Our main reason for switching to a tractor was the amount of damage that was done to gates, doors, walls, and mounted fans by the skid steer. The damage from tractor operation has been almost nothing. MANEUVERABILITY: Our center alley in the lactating barn is 15 feet wide and we have no trouble turning into each alley to scrape out manure. In our prefresh barn the alley is only 12 feet wide and our tractor still turns fine. The skid steer can turn around in the alley but we see this as a negative because manure gets dripped onto the stall beds, free stalls get bent, and fans have been knocked off their posts. TIRE WEAR: The tractor with 6,000 hours has had six front tires replaced at a cost of $40 each for a total of $240. We use regular car tires on the front. The skid steer with 4,000 hours has used 12 tires at $96 each for a total of $1,152. One final note on the tractor is the modifications that we made. The Ford Boomer that we use needs two modifications to the three-point hitch arms to avoid bending and breaking the lower pin. This can be done for about $100. |
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A I R Y I n i t i a t i v e s
N E W S L E T T E R |