VICTORIAN growers were given their first look at one of Lely's three new Tigo loader wagons at Farm World, Warragul, recently.

All three models in the range - the Tigo 50, Tigo 60 and Tigo 70 - come with a variety of optional extras.

They are rated for a maximum weight of 20 tonnes and their capacities are 30, 35 and 39 cubic metres respectively.

The capacities are quoted as DIN figures, which is an international standard for the compressed volume of product.

So the actual physical volume of the loader wagon may be larger, for example the DIN value of the Tigo 50 is 30 cubic metres but the wagon is actually 50 cubic metres in volume.

Lely Australia product manager Rob West said the new loader wagons had many optional extras, which allowed plenty of flexibility when it came to handling silage.

"The Tigos are extremely well made and the options include horizontal beaters at the rear for a nice, even discharge of material," Rob said.

"There are also models that do not have a pick up, so they can be used simply as a haul-out trailer in conjunction with a loader wagon."

A feature of the Tigo loader wagons is a heavy-duty feed rotor 800mm in diameter.

Rob said the large rotor along with a crop flow roller above the wagon's pick up, provided excellent crop throughput.

"It's all about consistency of flow of the material into the wagon and the Tigos' design allows plenty of crop throughput capacity," he said.

Controlling the various functions of the Tigo wagon is done via a neatly designed control panel in the tractor cabin. The controller can be used to vary the floor speed of the wagon and engaging auto loading and unloading modes.

The movable floor comprises four heavy-duty chains and timber slats.

Clearance under the drawbar is a healthy 700mm.

When it comes to cutting the grass or crop going into the wagon, a bank of 40 knives provide a chop width of 37mm.

The knife bank can be swung out from underneath the wagon so the blades can be sharpened.

Rob said a tractor of 112-134kW would be required to pull the Tigo 60, which has a tandem axle with rear steering wheels as standard.

For more details, phone Lely Australia on (03) 5484 4000.