Bobcat Equipment is Backbone of Dairy Operation

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"Those three pieces of equipment are the backbone of our operation," says Steve Smith. "The labor savings-compared to the cost of operating them-makes the purchase decision a no-brainer. Our Bobcat® machines run more than anything else on the farm. I don't know how we'd do without them."

He and his wife, Melinda, and their three teenaged children, Jessica, Steve and Zachary, operate the 240-acre, 140-cow dairy farm in the mountains of southern Pennsylvania. All the field work is done by custom operators.

The Bobcat equipment tackles the rest of the chores-from cleaning manure and handling feed to construction work and clearing brush. In addition to the attachments they own, the Smiths also rent Bobcat attachments from their Bobcat dealer, Burchfield's, Inc., Martinsburg, Pa.

Versatile loaders

They bought their first Bobcat loader, a 773, in 2000. "We practically ran the wheels off that machine doing a variety of jobs," says Smith. "Now we use it just for cleaning barns."

In 2004, the Smiths added an S300. Equipped with over-the-tire steel tracks for added flotation and traction, it makes quick, easy work of many chores. One of them is hauling and mixing feed. The machine scoops out silage from large sausage-like plastic bags. "Our S300 can mix the feed much faster," says Smith. "And, unlike a silo unloader which just sits there when you're not using it, when we're done mixing feed, we can use the machine for all kinds of other work."

The S300 played an important role in tearing out an old milking facility and excavating for a new milking parlor and barn. They used it with a rented Bobcat hydraulic breaker for demolishing the old concrete and with their own Bobcat low-profile bucket for the dirt work. "The S300 just about paid for itself grading and moving dirt on that project," says Smith.

The farm also includes timber land where the S300 is used with a grapple attachment to handle logs which are cut up and sold for firewood. Elsewhere, the S300 is used with a rented Bobcat auger attachment for drilling fence postholes and with a root rake to clear brush. "It used to take two of us working four days, using our hands, to do what the S300 and operator can do in two hours," he says.

Both the 773 and the S300 are equipped with an enclosed, heated and air conditioned cab and the Power BobTachTM mounting system, which allows operators to hook up and detach attachments, many without leaving the cab. "We wouldn't be without these features," says Smith. "In addition to the convenience, there's the comfort level to consider. We can do a better job when we're comfortable and don't tend to hurry when working around livestock."

Easy transportation

In the summer of 2005, the Smiths added their third Bobcat unit, a 20 hp 2200 four-wheel drive utility vehicle. It provides fast, economical transportation between their house and the farm, which is almost a mile away. He reports initial fuel consumption of the diesel-powered machine averages 3.9 hours of operation per gallon.

The two-passenger 2200 also provides the power and traction to carry supplies, such as fencing materials, in the cargo box, and to tow a feed cart. The handy machine is used throughout the day. "There's always something that we can use it for," says Smith.

In that respect, the 2200 is just like the two Bobcat loaders-a real workhorse around the farm.