Merlo combo ticks the boxes for mixed Co Antrim farm

Gary Abbott from Irish Farmers Journal travelled to Cullybackey, Co Antrim,  to meet dairy and poultry farmer Maurice Knowles and find out why he opts to run two Merlo telehandlers, a P27.6 and a TF42.7

Situated near the village of Cully­backey, just a stone’s throw from Ballymena, Co Antrim, Maurice Knowles farms alongside his son, Daniel. For generations, dairy has been the main farm enterprise. The duo currently milk 120 cows in a full indoor system, calving the majority of cows in the spring and autumn months. Having made the decision to become involved in the family business full-time, Daniel decided to venture into the poultry sector. In 2020, two free-range layer units were built. Between the two enterprises, there is always a considerable reliance on a telehandler. Just over 10 years ago, the family transi­tioned to the Merlo brand. TI1ey are now on their third and fourth machines: a TF42.7 model, which was purchased in 2021, and a compact P27.6 model, which arrived in March 2023.

Read more here: https://forgie.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Knowles-Merlo-Article.pdf