Running SaMASZ front and rear mowers together makes commercial sense, and this article highlights the benefits.

For many contractors and large-scale farmers, a rear mower has long been the backbone of pasture management. It is familiar, proven, and dependable. But with rising operating costs and ongoing labour pressure, efficiency is now critical to staying profitable.

Pairing a SaMASZ front mower with a rear mower transforms mowing from a steady operation to a high-output system. The combination of the SaMASZ KDF302 front mower with the XT350 rear mower delivers a working width of around 6.3 metres (allowing for 200mm overlap), while requiring only a modest increase in fuel use.

More Output without Doubling Fuel

One of the misconceptions around running front and rear mowers together is diesel consumption. In practice, contractors report fuel use increases roughly 10 percent compared with running a rear mower alone.

What changes dramatically is productivity. 

A 3.5 metre rear mower operating on its own typically averages around 4 hectares per hour in real paddock conditions. With the KDF302 front mower working alongside the XT350 rear, output increases to around 7 hectares per hour, using the same tractor and operator. That represents a gain of roughly 75 percent more area covered per hour, for a relatively small increase in fuel burn.

What the numbers look like on diesel

Using a realistic New Zealand diesel price of around $1.90 per litre, 100 litres of fuel costs approximately $190 (source: Global Petrol Prices).

With a rear mower only, that 100 litres typically equates to around 10 hours of mowing, covering roughly 40 hectares. Fuel cost works out at about $4.75 per hectare. With the front and rear mower combination, the same 100 litres delivers closer to 9 hours of mowing, but at a higher work rate of around 7 hectares per hour. Total area covered increases to approximately 63 hectares, bringing fuel cost down to roughly $3.00 per hectare.

The result is lower cost per hectare, fewer tractor hours, and significantly more work completed from the same fuel spend.

Time savings that compound quickly

For contractors, time is often the most valuable resource.

Increasing output from 4 to 7 hectares per hour reduces mowing time per job by around 40 percent.

That means more jobs completed per day, reduced labour hours per hectare, and less wear on tractors and mowers.Across a busy season, not only do these savings add up quickly, but it could be the difference between getting the job done in time or not. In many cases, the value of the time saved can pay back the front mower far sooner than expected, effectively turning it into a revenue-generating attachment rather than just another cost.

Opening paddocks properly, first time

Beyond raw efficiency, running a front mower changes how paddocks are approached.

With a rear mower alone, operators often need to mow around the edges first before settling into efficient runs. A front mower allows contractors to drive straight into the paddock and begin mowing immediately, cutting cleanly on entry and exit.

The workflow is smoother, turning is reduced, and large paddocks can be opened up faster with a more professional finish.

Designed with New Zealand contractors in mind

The SaMASZ KDF302 front mower has been refined based on direct feedback from New Zealand contractors. Recent design enhancements include improved blade carrier and storage solutions, making blade changes quicker and tidier, along with a clear mowing height indicator that allows operators to accurately set and repeat cutting heights across different paddocks.

These practical improvements reduce setup time, simplify daily operation, and help maintain consistent results during long working days.

For many contractors, adopting a front mower is easier than expected.

A large number of modern tractors are already fitted with front linkage and PTO capacity. In these cases, adding a KDF302 front mower is a straightforward upgrade rather than a major machinery change.

Paired with the XT350 rear mower, the setup makes full use of existing tractor capability while delivering a significant jump in output.

Contractor perspective

Scott Ramsey, a Ruawai-based contractor, recently added the SaMASZ KDF302 front mower to his setup, pairing it with his existing SaMASZ XT390 rear mower.

“It’s good. It changed how I work straight away,” says Scott. “It saves money and speeds the job up. It’s still early days, but we can already see we’ll cover a lot more ground. It’s also way easier to open up the paddock. Once you buy a front mower, you’d never go back to the old rear-only setup.”

A smarter way to mow

Running a SaMASZ KDF302 front mower with the XT350 rear mower is not about working harder. It is about making better use of time, fuel, and machinery.

With a 6.3 metre cutting width, lower fuel cost per hectare, and meaningful time savings, the front and rear combination offers a practical way to lift productivity and profitability, without changing tractors or operators.

Watch the front & rear mower combo here. 

Reach out if you’d like further details on this winning mower combo!