Custom-Made Feed Fence
The Twist & Lock is designed as a safety headlock feed fence. This means that the opening between the fixed bar and the locking bar is sufficiently wide at the bottom to allow a cow to withdraw her head if she accidentally slips or falls. This enables her to free herself without assistance.
The feed fence is available in various feeding widths. The standard width of 65 cm per cow is still the most common, although wider feeding spaces are becoming increasingly popular. Our range also includes feed fences with feeding widths of 70, 75 and 78 cm. The fences are available in various lengths and can be adapted to fit larger openings by using longer mounting components.
The feed fence has an internal height of 90 cm and an overall height of 102 cm, making it suitable for larger cows. The neck opening is 20 cm wide, accommodating most dairy cattle breeds.
The Twist & Lock feed fence is easy to operate and provides plenty of headroom. Thanks to the unique Twist & Lock function, cows can be individually released or locked in place. The use of noise-reducing materials prevents excessive noise, for example when opening and closing the locking bars.
A personnel passage can easily be incorporated into the feed fence. Special walk-through brackets are available for this purpose. A simpler passage can be created by leaving an opening between two support posts. Rounded mounting components are available to prevent clothing from catching on the structure.
Technical Design
The feed fence features a robust and reliable construction. A rectangular top profile and a 60 mm bottom tube, connected by 1” intermediate tubes, form a strong and durable frame.
The locking bar is secured by plastic catches enclosed within the top profile of the feed fence. This protects the mechanism from dirt and ensures quiet operation. By moving the top profile using the central operating lever, the feed fence can be switched between the locking and release positions.
The pivot point of the locking bar is fully rounded, with no protruding bolts. The locking bar is fitted with a bronze bushing to ensure years of wear-resistant operation.
A plastic drop tube at the bottom of the locking bar prevents cows from getting their collars caught behind the locking bar.
The feed fences are mounted to 2.5” or 3” support posts using mounting brackets. Mounting brackets are also available for most types of structural columns. These brackets allow continuous adjustment of the fence length by up to 5 cm per bracket, enabling a total extension of up to 24 cm.
Operating Options
Using a central operating lever, approximately 30 metres of feed fence can be locked or released simultaneously. The locking bar automatically locks when the cow puts its head through the head opening and reaches for the feed.
The rotary knob, located above each opening of the feed fence, allows individual cows to remain locked in place while the other cows in the group are released using the central operating lever. This is particularly useful when individual cows need to be held back for treatment.
Conversely, pressing the release button allows individual cows to be released separately while the remaining cows stay locked in place. This is useful when one or more cows need to be separated from the group.
The operating knobs are extremely user-friendly, setting this feed fence apart from many other safety feed fences on the market.
An optional feature is the central locking function. This allows all locking bars to be closed simultaneously, preventing cows from accessing the feed. This is particularly useful when moving cows along the feed fence towards the milking parlour and allowing them access to feed after milking.
The feed fence can also be installed at a forward angle. This gives cows a greater reach towards the feed and reduces pressure on their necks when feeding.
