If you run a cattle feeding operation, a cattle feeding loader is likely one of the largest capital investments you make.
Introduction
When it comes time to replace or upgrade that machine, the natural instinct is to obsess over the loader itself—horsepower, breakout force, cab comfort, and Tier 4 finals from brands like Caterpillar or John Deere.
But at Shimek Industries, we believe many operators are looking at the equation backward.
Before you sign the papers on a shiny new loader, you need to ask yourself one critical question: “What am I putting on the front of it?”
The attachment you choose shouldn’t just be an afterthought; it should dictate the specs of the machine you buy. Specifically, choosing a Shimek Ejector Bucket first can change your requirements for the cattle feeding loader, potentially saving you thousands in upfront capital and ongoing operational costs.+1
The Efficiency Factor: Optimizing Your Cattle Feeding Loader
Time is money in a feedlot. The traditional method of feeding with a standard rollout bucket or a high-tip bucket has been the norm for years, but it comes with hidden costs.
Switching to a Shimek Ejector Bucket transforms the daily grind of feeding cattle. By pushing the feed out rather than relying on gravity and a steep dump angle, you gain two massive advantages:+1
1. Reduced Maintenance on Wear Items
Standard buckets require constant tilting, rocking, and shaking to empty sticky rations. This puts immense stress on pins, bushings, and hydraulic cylinders.+1
The Shimek Ejector Bucket is designed to discharge cleanly and smoothly.
- Less violent shaking means less wear and tear on your cattle feeding loader linkage and the bucket itself.
- You spend less time greasing and replacing pins and more time feeding.
2. Reduced Feeding Times
Cycle times matter. With a Shimek Ejector, you can approach the mixer, discharge the load at a controlled rate, and back away without the lost time of waiting for a gravity dump or repositioning the loader multiple times to clear the bucket.
The Result: Shaving seconds off every load adds up to hours saved over a month.
The “High Lift” Premium: Do You Really Need It?
Here is where the financial strategy gets interesting.
When feeding TMR mixers or tall feed trucks, many operators automatically opt for a High Lift (or High Reach) configuration on their cattle feeding loader. They do this because a standard bucket loses significant vertical clearance when it is tipped forward to dump. To clear the side of the mixer, you need that extra boom length.+2
However, the Shimek Ejector Bucket changes the geometry.
Because the Shimek Ejector pushes feed out horizontally rather than tipping the bucket edge down, you maintain your maximum hinge-pin height. You don’t lose reach during the dump cycle.+1
The Cost-Saving Opportunity
If you are purchasing a loader primarily for feeding cattle—and you don’t require high-lift, full-tilt capabilities for other specialized stacking tasks—pairing a Standard Lift Wheel Loader with a Shimek Ejector Bucket is often sufficient to reach vertical mixers that would otherwise require a High Lift machine.
- The Result: You avoid the expensive premium of a High Lift loader configuration.
- The Bonus: Standard lift arms generally offer higher tipping loads and better stability than high lift arms, giving you a more capable machine for the same (or lower) price.
The Bottom Line
Don’t let the loader manufacturer decide how you feed your cattle. By choosing the bucket first, you maximize efficiency and stop paying for loader specs you don’t actually need.+1
Invest in a Shimek Ejector Bucket, stick with a standard lift loader, and keep that extra capital where it belongs—in your operation.
Contact Shimek Industries today to discuss which bucket model fits your new loader.
