Dollie graping feed at Octomore Farm

Went up to Octomore Farm today to see James' latest machine - a Redrock Feed Mixer. This is basically a giant food processor driven by the PTO from a Massey Ferguson. You load barley straw, draff (the hi-protein spent grain from the distillery mash tun) and silage into the top and it mashes it all up into a sort of porridge. The cattle find this much more palatable than eating the indredients straight up - and it is better for them like this - they retain more of the goodness.

The picture shows Dollie tidying up with a grape after the machine has passed down the line. The Angus cattle are fed inside during the winter. The Highlanders are much tougher and stay out on the hill.