David McAlister is an Agri contractor based at Kilmoyle, Armoy in Co. Antrim. He operates a very successful baled silage service. Over the last 12 years he has been making 14 -16,000 bales each year for around 100 local farmers. His customers include beef, dairy, sheep and a goat farmer.
David also spreads fertilisers for his customers and provides a weed spraying service. He has a number of seasonal workers and his wife Pamela does great work looking after the book keeping. His extensive farm machinery range includes two McHale Fusion integrated balerwrappers, two Deutz- Fahr and two Case IH tractors, four Pottinger mowers, a McHale tedder and a Pottinger rake. He also has an Amazone fertiliser spreader and sprayer.
David and Pamela McAlister keep a herd of 25 Belted Galloway commercial suckler cows and a Limousin bull. They keep the calves through to beef. According to David the Belted Galloway cows, a Scottish breed, are low maintenance, hardy and easily kept. Belted Galloways are prized for exceptional foraging abilities, docile temperaments, and producing premium, lean meat on grass-alone.
As a livestock farmer himself, he understands the importance of making top class silage and makes 500-600 bales each year for his own cattle. He has been using the Film and Film system for many years. David uses SilotitePro balewrap and Baletite net replacement film, both products purchased from Fane Valley stores in Ballycastle. “ I have always stuck with Fane Valley over the years as we are very happy with product quality, price and service” says David.
David is now using the longer 1800m SilotitePro reels (20% more balewrap) and the new 3000m Baletite rolls (50% more film). According to Donal Corrigan, the Amcor Area Manager, “with the longer reels, busy silage contractors are saving a lot of downtime as they do not have to return for more film, even on a long day. SilotitePro is also packaged in convenient sleeves that can be recycled alongside the bale wrap, so there are no bulky boxes to dispose of”.
"My customers prefer the Film and Film system", says David. "They will not allow me to use netwrap as they are getting much better quality silage using the Film & Film system. The bales have a lot more protection and a better air barrier. They have no problems with mouldy silage and the bales last longer in storage".
