Chris Awdry

The COUGAR gives Chris Awdry more flexibility and his drivers more time to carry out other work at peak periods. He bought the 480hp COUGAR from Vaughan Agri last year to replace one of his two reverse drive triple DISCO mowers, which support two JAGUAR harvesters each harvesting around 2,800ha a year.

"The biggest benefit and the reason I bought the COUGAR is the potential it offers to improve efficiency in the field and reduce fuel use per acre" explains Chris, who is based near Trowbridge in Wiltshire. "The key to a contracting business is the efficient utilisation of your labour and this can make or break a business. It gives me flexibility, because at peak periods it releases labour and tractors for other work."

Historically Chris has run his triple mowers on 330hp reverse drive tractors, but argues that by having the COUGAR, because he does not need this power for other operations, one option would be to run just one 330hp tractor and replace the other with a 200hp tractor, so saving around £50,000.

"Because the COUGAR will do one and a half times what a triple does, this releases the 330hp tractor for other work, especially in the autumn when we are concentrating on cultivation. Also, for instance when baling it means that when the COUGAR finishes mowing, the driver can come back and go straight out baling without wasting time dropping the mowers and hitching up the baler."

"In operation, whilst the COUGAR is just as quick to get ready for work as the triple mowers, its increased output means not only will it finish quicker, but fuel usage per acre is also reduced. Also in a small field it will be more efficient than even a 3.0m mower, because not only will the COUGAR cover the ground quicker, but as it turns less often there is less dead time and it reduces soil damage," Chris continues.

"It did take a bit of getting used to, but it is very user-friendly. It is a big machine, but it will get through a 3.65m gate, so there are very few places it won’t go, and it worked in everything from 1.2ha fields up to 28ha with spot rates of up to 16ha/hour compared to 8ha for the triple DISCO." Chris adds that he finds that at about 95hp/unit, the power is well matched to the mower decks and that he has been very pleased with the quality of the cut and how well the mower units follow undulations. "No two contracting businesses are the same, but the COUGAR suits my situation. The biggest advantage for me is the efficient use of labour and tractors, but my customers are also pleased as because it covers the ground so quickly, it means that quality will be more consistent through the clamp."