This is the story of a mid-sized sheep and cattle farm on New Zealand's South Island that recently invested in an 8-10 tons per hour hay cubes pellet machine — specifically, a high-capacity hay pellet mill from RICHI — to convert their surplus pasture into market-ready hay cubes and pellets.
This is a project about hay cubes pellet machine in New Zealand. In New Zealand, hay production is more than just a seasonal job — it’s a livelihood for countless livestock farmers and feed suppliers who rely on pasture and forage to keep cattle, sheep, and horses healthy all year round. While baled hay remains a staple, more farmers are seeing the benefit of processing part of their forage into dense, durable hay cubes or pellets for easier storage, transport, and export.
This is the story of a mid-sized sheep and cattle farm on New Zealand's South Island that recently invested in an 8-10 tons per hour hay cubes pellet machine — specifically, a high-capacity hay pellet mill from RICHI Machinery — to convert their surplus pasture into market-ready hay cubes and pellets. Their goal? Maximize the value of every hectare of grass while adding a stable new revenue stream.
Name:
Hay Cubes Pellet Mill
Country:
New Zealand
Date:
2025
Capacity:
8-10T/H
Model:
CZLH768
Main motor power:
250 kW
Control Mode:
Automatic
Finished pellet diameter:
8–12 mm
Like many New Zealand farmers, this customer owns extensive pastureland, much of it dedicated to rotational grazing for sheep and cattle. But over the last decade, unpredictable weather and changing export demands have pushed him to look for ways to diversify beyond traditional livestock sales.
During peak growth months, the farm produces more grass than the animals can graze. Before, surplus pasture was cut, baled, and stored — but bales require large storage sheds, can attract moisture, and don't travel well overseas. When a neighbor mentioned the rising demand for compressed hay cubes for horse owners and export markets in Asia, the farmer saw a way to make better use of his excess grass.
He had no pelletizing equipment before, so after researching, he decided to start with one robust hay pellet press that could handle large volumes of chopped, sun-dried pasture and turn it into dense, uniform hay cubes or pellets.
After evaluating his daily surplus forage output and desired throughput, he settled on the CZLH768 model hay cubes pellet machine in New Zealand — a powerful grass pellet mill known for handling large volumes of fibrous forage.
Key specs for this customer's hay alfalfa pellet making machine:
The model hay cubes pellet machine in New Zealand can comfortably produce up to 8–10 tons per hour of high-density hay cubes, depending on raw material consistency and moisture.
The primary raw material is mixed perennial ryegrass and clover, which covers most New Zealand pastures. The farm cuts the grass during peak growth, dries it naturally to about 12–14% moisture, then chops it into smaller pieces before feeding it into the hay pelletizer.
Sometimes, the farmer mixes in up to 20% alfalfa when available, boosting the protein content of the finished hay cubes — a premium selling point for horse owners and breeders who prefer high-protein forage.
Before purchasing the grass pellet machine, the farmer stored large bales outdoors under tarps. This meant mold, spoilage, and labor-intensive handling. The new pelletizer eliminates much of that hassle.
Now, once the hay is cut, dried, and chopped, it's fed directly into the hay cube pellet mill. The hay cubes pellet machine compresses the loose forage into dense cubes or pellets, which are then cooled and bagged. The cubes take up far less space than bales, store better, and are easier to stack onto pallets for local sales or container shipping.
A single operator can run the hay cubes pellet machine in New Zealand with minimal daily oversight, freeing the farm team to focus on livestock and pasture management.
Although this New Zealand farmer bought the machine primarily as a hay pellet mill, he's already testing other uses:
By adjusting the moisture, die configuration, and feed speed, the same machine handles these variations with no need for major changes.
Within six months of using the hay cubes pellet machine in New Zealand, this South Island farm reports:
Most importantly, the customer says the hay pellet machine's reliability and low maintenance — combined with RICHI's support — have made this switch from baled hay to pelleted hay surprisingly smooth.
New Zealand's forage production is one of its biggest competitive advantages. With abundant pasture, many farmers have unrealized value sitting in their paddocks every spring and summer. A hay alfalfa pellet machine or hay pelletizer gives them a way to turn surplus grass into a stable, high-value feed product that stores well and sells for a premium.
Demand is growing too. Horse breeders, dairy farms, and exporters increasingly prefer cubes and pellets over traditional hay because they're easier to handle, cleaner, and less wasteful.
The farmer chose RICHI not just because of the CZLH768 hay pellet machine specs but because of the local support and training. RICHI's team worked with him to:
This partnership approach made a big difference to a farm team that had never run a pellet mill before.
Next, the farmer is planning to test small runs of mixed feed pellets, combining hay with barley or oats to make custom blends for sheep and horses during winter. This means the same grass pellet press will help diversify the farm's feed options and provide more direct-to-customer sales.
He's also exploring contract pelleting for neighboring farms that have surplus hay but no drying or pelletizing equipment of their own.
If you run livestock in New Zealand and watch forage go to waste or struggle with moldy bales every winter, maybe it's time to do what this farm did — add a hay cubes pellet machine to convert surplus pasture into a value-added, shelf-stable product.
Whether you call it a grass hay pellet mill, hay ruminant feed pellet machine, or hay cattle feed pellet making machine, the right machine can unlock new profit streams and help you manage forage better. And with RICHI, you're not just buying a machine — you're getting a proven partner with deep experience and local support.
Ready to learn more about the 8-10t/h hay cubes pellet machine in New Zealand? Reach out to RICHI today — we're here to help you transform pasture into profit!
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