Abstract:Eight different mixing feeding wagons (MFW) were investigated under identical conditions in preparing total mixed rations (TMR) for three various cattle categories. Investigated were the uniformity of distribution of the feed into the trough, homogeneity of TMR distributed, the machine capacity in feed extracting from storage and loading, TMR mixing and distributing into the trough, fuel consumption and power consumption required. The least uniformity was found for TMR with a high hay proportion (average value of standard deviation 49.9%). Better results were achieved with MFW designed with horizontal mixing augers (average standard deviation 33.7%). MFW with vertical augers distributed feeds at average standard deviation of 61.3%. Standard deviation of the proportion of feed particles on the separator screens which is considered as a measure of TMR homogeneity, was bellow 20% in most cases. This suggests a hint of a very good mixing efficiency of all the MFW followed up. No influence of different designs of the working elements of MFW on TMR homogeneity has been proved. With respect to the machine capacity (output) in preparing and distributing TMR, no large differences between various MFW were found and their output averaged from all measurements varied within the range of 4.79-5.48 t/h. The least average specific consumption of fuel for preparing and distributing TMR was found in the MFW equipped with vertical mixing augers (1.10-1.11 l/t). MFW with one horizontally mounted mixing auger showed a rather higher fuel consumption (1.30-1.43 l/t). The highest fuel consumption was found with MFW equipped with two parallely mounted mixing augers (1.59-1.63 l/t).Keywords: mixing feeding wagons; cattle feeding; total mixed rations; output; fuel consumptionThe basic feeding technique in cattle and especially in milk cow keeping is the mixed feeding ration prepared of a mixture of various bulky feeds and concentrates often termed as TMR (total mixed ration). The feed ration resulting from such preparation influences favourably the feed reception by animals, their efficiency and state of health (Kudrna 2004). In the past, TMR were prepared on farm stationary mixing plants. They, however, were substituted by mixing feeding wagons (MFW) after 1990. Currently, these are the dominant equipment for TMR preparation and distribution on cattle farms. For example they account for preparing and distributing TMR to more than 80% milk cows in the Czech Republic (Vegricht et al. 2006).The quality of TMR preparation and distribution depends decisively on the quality of mixing feeding wagons and on a suitable design of their working elements while a great influence is also attributed to the correct operation of MFW. A great part of MFW is equipped with the equipment for extracting and unloading feeds stored in trough silos (rotary cutters, cutting shields or frames with active or passive knives) and their loading. Generally, it would be admitted that rottary cutters could injure the structure of the unloaded feeds and have hig...