Feeding Beef With a Skid Loader

greenskeeper

Posted 4/24/2015 06:43 (#4534563) Subject: skid steer or tractor

I have 15 acres of grass pasture.I am buying 6 cow calf pairs.I may have as many as 10 cows at some point.I am going to have to buy my feed.I can't make up my mind which would serve me better a skid steer or a tractor.I may be able to hook up with my neighbor and use my machine(skid steer or tractor) to help him hay.I understand the skid steer and all the attachments.The skid steer also gets me in and around the barn for cleaning up. The tractor won't fit in the barn..We get a lot of snow and wind during the winter months and i would need to keep the snow cleaned up where i feed.Would a skidsteer take care of the snow without getting stuck. This is where a 4x4 tractor would come in handy.
I need opinions please! Thanks/ Peace and Prayers jedeka

Posted 4/24/2015 06:57 (#4534587 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

Boone, Iowa

My neighbor had to buy a set of chains and put on his skid steer got snow removal. I have problems in mud and snow with my skid steer. Maybe one with tracks would be the answer. Kickapoogian

Posted 4/24/2015 07:10 (#4534622 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

Soldiers Grove Wi. 54655

I couldn't get by without a skid loader but that's partly because I have back problems so when feeding cows in the winter I use round bales and dump them in the ring.(I couldn't flip a ring over a bale if I wanted to).. If you can't get in the barn with at tractor that's a problem for sure but how often do you need to get in it? Can you rent one for a day or two a year to clean it out? Or do you feed them inside so the manure pack builds up? Each person's situation is different but as far as snow I put at least 2 chains on and usually run 4 all winter if there is snow on the ground as I plow the neighbors out too. When it comes to mud though a skid steer is easier to get stuck as it will bottom out and you're not going to be able to always push yourself out with the bucket. Without knowing more how your pasture lays and your feedlot surface is it's hard to really answer. If you have a lot of concrete that makes a lot of difference too as to benefit having a skid loader. All the attachments really are nice too as I have a post hole auger, straw/bedding tine bucket with hydrolic grabs that hold everything together which also works nice for moving around small logs or wood posts too.. also a rock bucket without the hyd,. grapple and I love it as it works better for loading manure then any regular flat edge material bucket ever could because it has the points on the front so it digs in better, The bale forks get used the most but always keep and extra tine on hand as they do break from time to time since we all want to lift more then we should at times or try pushing ourselves out of the mud if we don't think we're that stuck.. Pallet forks at so handy for moving anything.. ect,. ect... I also love my 2 speed since I plow the nieghbors out in the winter so it's 12 mph instead of 7 or 8... of course it doesn't have a pto and is slower on the road then a tractor too but it's one of those decisions each person makes on their own to what is more practical.. \
Good luck~
Kick

ps; If you get one with tracks it would probably not get stuck as easy but if you figure on buying tracks and putting them "over" your tires I'd strongly recommend against it. I went that route before I bought my dozer and thought it was the "cat's meow" until I took them off. If they are not tight enough they will chew your tires up before you know it and they are also very hard on your drive train.. These were steel tracks... A fried on mine had them for awhile too and he got a rock inside the track between the tires and it bent/ruined and axle and cost him dearly.... I have my doubts on the rubber tracks that go over the tires too as i've heard the tires will eventually start spinning inside them.. All said if you buy a skid loader with tracks mounted right on the machine you can probably buy a used small tractor as well as a decent used skid loader too...

Edited by Kickapoogian 4/24/2015 07:16

Trint

Posted 4/24/2015 07:16 (#4534631 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

North Central OH

Clear all our snow with a skidsteer wheel machine no problems, tire chains wouldn't hurt though. If the tractor won't fit in your barn that sounds like a bit of a problem or a lot of pitch fork work in your future if you go that route. swne

Posted 4/24/2015 07:21 (#4534639 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

Cambridge, southwestern Nebraska

I think a small tractor and loader might be a better fit. If you going the skid steer route you will need a fairly large one for lift capacity and tracks. greenskeeper

Posted 4/24/2015 07:25 (#4534655 - in reply to #4534622) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

Thanks for the replys.Renting a skid steer is a good option for the barn.My biggest concern is watering cows in the winter.Where they go in to drink out of a tub i can't get a tractor in there,only a skid steer.That would mean lots of snow shoveling by hand all winter.Age is not on my side.(61).I could revamp the catch pen where the water is.The gorund where i feed is wet so maybe a tractor is better.
TIA All the best Cliff SEIA

Posted 4/24/2015 07:38 (#4534689 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

Wheeled skid steer, run a set of tire chains on the back tires in the winter and over the tire steel tracks in the summer. You can buy a nice skid steer for $15k and you won't buy much of a loader tractor for that kind of money. Sheep Herder

Posted 4/24/2015 07:48 (#4534716 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

ND

I have both a skid steer and a loader, and there is a place for each.    If you don't need a PTO then a skid steer is the way to go.   You can put chains on the back tires for more traction in snow.   Over the tire tracks are great in mud, but can't be used in snow as it sticks to the inside of the track and track gets so drum tight nothing will move.

jasonl

Posted 4/24/2015 08:39 (#4534817 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

midwest

Get both.

ECIAfarmer

Posted 4/24/2015 08:58 (#4534857 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

East Central Ia, S. Waterloo

Maybe look for some good moderately priced used units and get both. Tractor will do more, all around, but like my father, years ago, after he got a little skid steer he wondered how he ever got along with out it. Nathan (SD)

Posted 4/24/2015 09:26 (#4534909 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

Day Co. SD

greenskeeper - 4/24/2015 06:43

The tractor won't fit in the barn..

You will get sick of a pitckfork real fast, and the neighbor with a machine that does fit will always be busy.

boutbrok

Posted 4/24/2015 09:28 (#4534912 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

NE Ga

Skid steer is one of the handiest things on the farm and would hate to be without it. But if I could have only one machine it would be a 50hp +- 4wd utility tactor with a loader. greenskeeper

Posted 4/24/2015 11:50 (#4535143 - in reply to #4534912) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

Thanks to all for your help and advice.I think i will go with the tractor.
I know a gentleman that has a very good condition 2002 Kubota M-6800 cab,loader
and 4x4 with only 1800 hours. Everything works no leaks,very tight tractor at 65 hp.
It was used for haying and snow removal on a small horsefarm.It also has a hydraulic
reverser.This would be a perfect fit for my small operation.Priced at 25,000....

Peace and Prayers

WildBuckwheat

Posted 4/24/2015 12:52 (#4535224 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

Middlesex County, Ontario

In winter you won't get the skidsteer stuck unless you drive it through deep snow.

In winter you have a hard as rock frozen bottom with snow on top. Its your own fault if you drive through something you didn't scrape away.

cowski

Posted 4/24/2015 17:20 (#4535524 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

Alabama

"But if I could have only one machine it would be a 50hp +- 4wd utility tactor with a loader."+ 1 eight

Posted 4/24/2015 19:43 (#4535735 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

South Texas

Skid steer attachments work on tractors too. I have a 110 tlb. Little bitty tractor hydraulic drive, very maneuverable and can lift a full tote of roundup. My dad has had skid loaders about 20 years now, there are very few jobs I would prefer the skid loader for. You know you can't see around a round bale at all on one, and it'll only carry one, and tire machines are rough. Little tractor loads 11 on a flatbed, stick another on the loader hitch up the trailer and go to the hay pen with 12. I'd say you can't disc with a skid loader but I've seen it done. wannabe2

Posted 4/25/2015 18:45 (#4537561 - in reply to #4534563) Subject: RE: skid steer or tractor

NW Montana

Tractor will be cheaper to own and easier to use. A 6000 hr skid steer is not worth much. tracks and tires are expensive. at least 2X as often as tractor tires.
A small end loader may be an alternative like a Deere 204 or 20 other mfgs that market them. They can rack up well over 10K hours.

neeleywaaking.blogspot.com

Source: https://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=551508&DisplayType=flat&setCookie=1

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