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What I know of as a drum mower uses 2 (or more) relatively large drums with small blades (like on a disc mower). Both drum and disc mowers leave a similar result. Main difference I have seen between the two are drum mowers take more hp an dhave lower capacity per hour than disc mowers, and drum mowers use a lighter drive system. As far as either compaired to a haybine, the resulting hay is not conditioned (just like off a sickle mower). I run a tedder 4 hrs behind a disc mower and net baling a little sooner than hay cut with a haybine but not tedded. Without the tedder it takes a day longer. Is it faster to cut (maybe, but I only cut 1 gear higher than with a haybine). Cost, crop condition, and repairs are why I choose a disc mower/tedder combination over a haybine (I have both). A new discbine will run $12K plus. My NI disc mower and tedder was $8500. (I'll never buy another sickle bar mower again) I change blades every week on my discmower, takes me 30 minutes and costs $35 with new bolts (during the winter I sharpen and balance these to reuse, try to turn twice). I have never, ever used a haybine and not broken at least 1 guard (at $10 each) a day. It takes me a half day to pull a sickle and sharpen it, and even with bolt in sections it takes a good hour to replace one. For crop condition, I raise 1/2 alfalfa/ grass mix and half timothy. I use the full recommended rate of N on my timothy (300 pounds ammonium nitrate per acre) Usually, by late June I have serious lodging problems. My haybine wont cut 10' in some of that mess, disc mower rarely chokes (but it can be done). I cant imagine using a drum mower, an 8' disc mower pulls harder than a 15' batwing (based on gph fuel consumption). If a drum mower takes more hp for ton of hay I dont have enough tractor (4 over 80 hp).
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