PTO Driven Feed Chopper in Kenya
Table of Contents
A PTO driven feed chopper runs from the tractor instead of its own engine. It chops fodder for livestock and suits a farm that already owns a tractor. This guide covers how the drive works, what the tractor must supply, and what to check before buying.
How a PTO Driven Feed Chopper Works
The tractor’s power take-off turns a shaft that runs to the chopper’s gearbox. The gearbox then adjusts the speed and turns the rotor that carries the blades. Fodder fed into the hopper is cut between the moving blades and a fixed shear plate. Then the cut material leaves through a chute or a blower.
Because the machine has no engine of its own, its working speed comes from the tractor. A PTO driven feed chopper is built for one shaft speed, usually 540 or 1000 rpm. The two speeds are not interchangeable. For example, the common 540 rpm type has six splines and a 1⅜ inch (35 mm) shaft. However, the 1000 rpm types use a different shaft size.
What Your Tractor Must Supply
The tractor has to supply three things. First, it must give the right shaft speed. Second, it must deliver enough power at the PTO. Third, it must carry the machine safely.
First, check the shaft speed the chopper expects and confirm the tractor can run it. Second, match the chopper’s power requirement to the tractor’s rated PTO horsepower, not its engine horsepower. Also check the hitch: most tractor-driven choppers mount on the three-point linkage, so lift capacity and machine weight both matter.
Do not size the tractor to the average day. Chopping is a continuous load. A tractor that is only just powerful enough runs hot and slow in heavy fodder. In practice, a little reserve is cheaper than a second tractor.
PTO Driven Feed Chopper vs Diesel or Electric
The three drives suit different farms. The choice depends on what you own and where the machine will stand.
| Drive | Power source | Fuel and service | Mobility | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTO | The tractor’s power take-off | No separate engine to fuel or service | Moves with the tractor | A farm that already runs a tractor |
| Diesel | Its own diesel engine | Fuel storage and engine service | Self-contained | Sites with no tractor and no reliable grid power |
| Electric | A mains motor | Electricity and motor service | Fixed in one shed | A steady supply and a permanent work point |
On a farm with a tractor, the PTO option removes one engine from the maintenance list. It also means the chopper cannot work when the tractor is busy or broken. That is the trade to weigh.
Five Checks Before You Buy
Work through these five points before you pay for any machine.
- Shaft speed and splines. Confirm the chopper is built for the tractor’s PTO speed, and that the shaft couplings match.
- Power at the PTO. Compare the chopper’s stated requirement with the tractor’s rated PTO horsepower, not its engine horsepower.
- Guards and shaft protection. The shaft, joints and pulleys should be covered, and the drive should have a shear bolt or slip clutch.
- Blades, shear plate and bearings. Ask to see the cutting parts and check for cracks, chips and play in the rotor.
- Parts and the manual. Confirm you can buy blades, bearings and seals locally, and that the machine comes with an operating manual.
Cut Length, Blades and Feed Type
Cut length comes from the blades and the shear plate gap. It does not come from the tractor. A machine set for short chop suits silage and mixing. In contrast, a longer cut suits dry roughage. Also ask the maker which setting the machine ships with and whether a spare blade set is available.
Green fodder and dry straw behave differently. Typically, green material is heavy and flows steadily. However, dry material is light and can bridge in the hopper. Therefore, feed dry material in smaller amounts and check that the hopper suits it. A PTO driven feed chopper can handle both, provided the blades and the feed rate are set for the material. A PTO chaff cutter is a different machine from a feed chopper. Our chaff cutter operations guide describes the PTO chaff cutters, which use two blades and three rollers. They reach up to 2,000 kg per hour of silage.
PTO Shaft Safety and Guards
The shaft is the most dangerous part of the machine. It turns at hundreds of revolutions per minute and has no clutch of its own. Also keep the guard over the shaft and the joints, and replace it if it is cracked. In addition, guards of this kind are mandatory in some countries. They are worth fitting everywhere.
Stop the tractor and disengage the PTO before you clear a blockage, adjust a blade or leave the seat. Never step over a turning shaft. Keep loose clothing and long hair away from it. Therefore, check the shaft length against the hitch. A shaft that is too long bottoms out on turns and can break the gearbox. Confirm whether the maker fits a shear bolt or a slip clutch. Carry a spare shear bolt if it uses one.
Match Output to Your Herd
Start with the fodder you chop each week. Then add a margin for busy periods. A dairy unit may chop a few bags a day. A feed mixer may run for hours. Size the chopper to the busy week, not the quiet one.
Then think about the tractor’s working day. A PTO driven feed chopper and the tractor share one engine. As a result, the tractor’s fuel use and cooling load both rise. If the tractor does other work, plan chopping around it rather than assuming the machine can run at any hour.
PTO Driven Feed Chopper Maintenance
It has fewer engine parts, but the drive line needs attention. Check the gearbox oil level on the maker’s schedule. Grease the shaft joints and bearings, and keep the guards in place.
After each session, empty the chamber and check the blades for chips and cracks. Then turn or replace them as a balanced set. Check the shear plate for wear. A dull blade tears rather than cuts, which slows the work and spoils the fodder. Finally, check the guards before the next session.
Transport, Hitching and Storage
First, hitch the machine on level ground and fit the stabilisers. Then check that the shaft has room to move through turns. Lift the chopper only as far as the linkage allows. Finally, keep to a safe speed between fields.
For storage, lower the machine to the ground and disconnect the shaft. Cover the hopper and the drive line. Store it under cover if you can. Rain in the gearbox costs more than a shed.
Where to Buy a PTO Driven Feed Chopper in Kenya
Eunidrip supplies farm machinery from our Nakuru base. For a tractor-driven machine, tell us your PTO rating, the fodder you chop and the output you need each day. We will then advise on the right machine and confirm what is available.
Call +254 728 163329, or send the details through our contact page. Before you order, read how to make agricultural orders online. For the wider range, see our feed chopper guide with seven models and prices and the chaff cutter listing. The chaff cutter category collects the related pages.
Frequently Asked Questions About PTO Driven Feed Choppers
What is a PTO driven feed chopper? It is a fodder chopper that runs from a tractor’s power take-off instead of its own engine. The tractor supplies the power through a shaft and gearbox.
Can any tractor run one? No. The tractor must match the chopper’s shaft speed and meet its stated power requirement at the PTO.
Is 540 or 1000 rpm better? Neither is better in general. The chopper is built for one speed, so match the machine to the tractor. The common 540 rpm type uses a six-spline shaft of 1⅜ inches.
Does it need its own fuel? No, but the tractor uses more fuel when it is driving the chopper under load.
Can it chop dry straw? Many machines can, but dry material flows differently from green fodder. Check the hopper and blade setting with the maker before you rely on it.
What should I check on the shaft? The guard, the length, the couplings and the shear protection. Stop the PTO before clearing any blockage.