Please pick me a tractor

[johan3400]

WW
with the added information. I think a smaller tractor could work for you. If your goal is a 500 head flock you will need more than one tractor in the long run. I would suggest either a tub grinder for you bales or maybe start with an unroller. The sheep will use the bales best if they do not have it coming down around their head. I think many of the name brand tractors would fill the bill of being tough enough to keep on working. I am partial to my Bota and just purchased a second one. You may look at an MX 5100, good workhorse. After you get established you would need to look hard at a larger tractor. I think if you are going to have all those sheep and a larger acreage your wife will be out with you often so you would need his and hers tractors anyway. I think other said it, go and drive a few, have fun with it.

 

[easygo]

I can't speak for tractor size as I have no experience on the large scale you are talking about. As it was said before most all major brands will work great, but(!!!) try what fits you the best. Really. I went to the dealers and set on several makes of tractors to see how things are layed out. Does your shoe fit in and amongst the pedals. In the winter those heavy boots are even more in the way. I love manual shift cars, but I didn't buy a gear tractor because the forward-reverse (shuttle) shifter is on the left side. Sounds stupid, but I'm used to shifting with my right hand and steer with the left it never failed to confuse me a little. When you turn around in the seat (you will do that a lot) does your elbow bump into a piece of steel?
These were things I looked for after I decided on the tractor size. Will they all do the work? You bet. Happy hunting

 

[WantedWolf]

Thank you very much for the replys.

"Sounds stupid, but I'm used to shifting with my right hand and steer with the left it never failed to confuse me a little. When you turn around in the seat (you will do that a lot) does your elbow bump into a piece of steel? "


thats very helpfull advice. The dealers lot will be a very different enviroment from the field and I need to try not to overlook the "little things" that I will have to live with daily when comparing similar tractors. Putting myself "in the field" on the lot seems tough with little tractor experience, so any advice helps alot.

For sizing im still unsure. but leaning towards a good used 60-70hp for a starter tractor it seems mid 90s are the keepers. And when able pick up an older 40-50 to help out. I need to consider offloading the trailer during the move and some crates might outweigh a large bale.

Merry christmas and happy holidays to all.

 

[pitt_md]

I grew up on a small farm in MI. We had 300 head of sheep and I don't think you want to mess with small bales. 300 head took a LOT of hay to get through the winter. As for the size of tractor I would start in the 70hp + range. You should be able to find a good used one these days for the price of a new smaller one. You have a lot of land to work and time is money.

 

[WantedWolf]

I grew up on a small farm in MI. We had 300 head of sheep and I don't think you want to mess with small bales. 300 head took a LOT of hay to get through the winter. As for the size of tractor I would start in the 70hp + range. You should be able to find a good used one these days for the price of a new smaller one. You have a lot of land to work and time is money.

very true thank you iam liking what I see in the 7040 but at that size should I just start looking for the big tractor in a 90 - 100 hp and wait on a perfect 40 - 50hp for backhoe and little bucket jobs

 

[easygo]

should I just start looking for the big tractor in a 90 - 100 hp and wait on a perfect 40 - 50hp for backhoe and little bucket jobs

Last summer I talked to a farmer who has beef cattle. He does his haying with a 100hp 2wd tractor. When all is cut and bailed he uses a 65HP machine with a loader to get the round bales onto a truck and move the bales around at his farm. He let me try it and the old 4wd Deutz-Allis (spelling?) 65hp seemed to have handled the bales fine. I was working for him just for the fun of it for an hour or so running the tractor. He said he used to cut hay with that tractor before buying the 100hp 2wd. I forgot how many acres he cuts but it was in the neighborhood of 150-200.

I just remembered this and thought this might help a little in making your decagon.