At Farmgard, we know our agricultural equipment inside out; we have the tools and knowledge, equipment, and Pasture mulchers farmers have come to rely on, and today we’re going to share some of that knowledge on the subject of pasture management. Good pasture management is integral to the proper functioning of any commercial farm. Far from being just a collection of processes, pasture management is a complex and delicate science requiring expert knowledge, a wealth of experience, and a variety of highly specialised equipment. In this blog, we deep dive into two important pieces of pasture management technology: mulchers and slashers.
What Is the Difference Between a Mulcher and a Slasher?
Mulcher and slashers perform more or less the same function, but in slightly different ways. Both use a series of metal flails to cut the grass of a pasture and leave the dead organic matter on top to act as fertiliser. A slasher is basically an earlier incarnation of a mulcher, using fewer flails, but mounted horizontally and leaving windrows – long lines of mulched organic matter – across your pasture. A mulcher (also sometimes called a flail mower) uses more flail arms and mulches the grass much more finely, so it does not leave visible windrows in your paddock.
What Are the Pros and Cons?
As we mentioned, a slasher is an older piece of technology that performs the same function as a mulcher, and as you might expect, the newer model has some advantages. The main difference is that a mulcher does not leave windrows but instead mulches the grass finely and spreads it more evenly across the surface of the pasture. For many farmers, those windrows are a real nuisance. Not only do they look unsightly, but they can have other consequences for the health of your pasture. The clumps of grass found in windrows can smother the underlying grass, leading to patches of dead grass. All that dried, dead grass also makes great kindling, making it a serious fire hazard in bushfire season.
So, Which One is Better?
These days, most farmers do prefer mulchers, but that’s not to say slashers don’t still have their place. Good-quality slashers are still being built today, and especially on smaller farms; they can do the job perfectly well. They are typically less costly than mulchers, which makes them especially appealing for hobby farmers. A good-quality slasher can also be a good option if you want to quickly cut very long grass down to a couple of inches. Slashers are also typically easier to clean and maintain than mulchers as they have fewer moving parts and are an overall simpler piece of machinery.
So, in answer to the question, “which one is better,” it depends on what you will be using it for. Generally speaking, if you are a professional farmer with large blocks of land to manage, a mulcher is probably your best bet. If you are a part-time or hobby farmer or have only a few acres, then a slasher could be a more cost-effective alternative.
Contact Farmgard Now
We have an innovative range of mulchers, slashers, and other farm machinery to suit every setting and application. If you’d like more information on any of our products or services, visit the contact section of our website and get in touch with one of our friendly staff members by phone or email today
