Development of Oscillating Classifiers for Forage Chop Length Determination

Abstract

The chop length produced by forage harvesting systems is an important factor in many aspects of silage production. The only reliable method being tedious hand measurement of every particle in a sample of chopped material. Three oscillating particle length classifiers have been developed. Each of them differed from one another in their stroke patterns. The three different drive-mechanisms produce three screen motions: Linear motion, Under-arc motion and Gyratory motion. Effects of the stroke patterns on forage particle size separation is studied by using identical screen boxes. A procedure for calculating forage particle size is defined. The size of the particles are reported in terms of geometric mean length and geometric standard deviation by weight.

The particle size determined is used to evaluate forage harvesting machine and to define forage characteristics with regards to animal feeding trials.