Mutton Marsh Farm Upgrades Feeding System with Abbey VF1850 Diet Feeder

Dan Jackson, a dairy farmer from Wiltshire who produces popular YouTube farming videos documenting life on his family farm, Mutton Marsh Farm, recently upgraded the farm’s feeding system with a new Abbey Machinery VF1850 Vertical Twin Diet Feeder.

The new feeder replaces a Keenan machine that had been part of the farm’s feeding routine for many years.

The decision to invest in an Abbey feeder followed a demonstration earlier in the year when the old machine broke down.

“We had a demo over the weekend to get us going while we ordered a new bearing… and we were very impressed with it.”

Following that experience, the decision became clear.

“As it turns out, it was only a one-horse race. We didn’t get any prices for anything else after the demonstration. We liked the Abbey machine, the way it was built, how it operates and the dealer backup.”

Dan and his father chose the Abbey VF1850, a twin-auger vertical mixer with an 18m³ capacity, giving the farm additional flexibility when preparing feed rations.

Built for Efficient and Accurate Feeding

The machine features 16 knives and two counter knives, a planetary gear drive, and a robust electronic weighing system with four weigh bars, allowing accurate ration preparation and consistent feeding.

Dan also opted for a simple side discharge door rather than a conveyor system, which better suits the farm’s feeding setup.

“In this model, you get a much shorter drawbar which makes the machine more manoeuvrable… and that makes a big difference where space is tight.”

The Abbey feeder’s heavy-duty construction, including an 8mm tub wall, twin 22mm auger and durable base plate, ensures it can withstand the daily demands of feeding livestock.

Designed to perform in harsh conditions, the vertical auger system efficiently circulates and processes forage, producing a consistent and well-balanced ration.

Mixing Performance in Daily Use

During operation, the mixing performance has been immediately noticeable.

“You can see it cuts the silage to a shorter length but not so short there’s no fibre left it’s nicely mixed, nicely processed.”

The result is a uniform mix that cattle readily consume.

Since arriving on the farm, the Abbey mixer wagon has quickly integrated into the daily feeding routine, operating on the same tractor previously used with the old feeder.

“It’s nice and compact and manoeuvrable… a great addition to the farm.”

For Dan and his family, investing in the Abbey VF1850 provides the capacity, build quality and reliability needed for one of the most important daily tasks on the farm.

“Hopefully the Abbey will still be here in 15 years’ time.”

You can follow Dan on YouTube and Instagram @CowfarmerDan.