Is an Avant loader good on the farm? What you need to know

Are Avant loaders a smart investment for farming operations? Or are they too compact and light-duty for the heavy lifting that farms demand daily?

Avant loaders have developed a strong following in agriculture, especially for operations that value precision, maneuverability and require a compact overall loader size. But they’re not a perfect fit for every farm task.

This article delivers an honest review of where an Avant loader performs best, where it falls short, and how to determine if it’s the right fit for specific farming tasks.

7 Ideal Farm Tasks for Avant Loaders

Avant loaders are not designed to compete with large tractors. Instead, they shine in environments that demand maneuverability, compact operation, and minimal surface disturbance. Here are seven farming applications where Avant consistently outperforms larger loaders.

1. Horse facilities and stables 

Avant’s articulated steering allows the operator to easily turn into horse stables. The telescopic boom reaches out, allowing precise placement of feed, hay, and bedding. Visibility is excellent for mucking out stalls or loading hay nets, and the compact frame fits through standard stable doorways.

2. Calf rearing sheds and herd homes 

Precision handling and gentle ground contact work perfectly here. Moving milk powder bags, feed equipment, and bedding materials won't damage floors or create excessive noise that stresses young animals. One-handed attachment changes make switching between tasks quick and efficient.

3. Chicken sheds and poultry operations 

The low profile design allows work in buildings with restricted headroom, while minimal ground pressure prevents floor damage. You can move feed bins, cleaning equipment, and handle litter without leaving track marks.

4. Market gardens and horticulture 

Avant loaders offer the control needed for delicate work such as transporting produce crates or installing irrigation lines. Their lightweight design avoids soil compaction, something that heavier equipment often causes in greenhouse or tunnel environments.

5. Beekeeping operations 

Beekeepers benefit from Avant’s rigid articulation and stability on uneven terrain. The Avant loader can be transported on a car trailer, eliminating the need for large trucks. It's especially useful for positioning hives on slopes or hauling equipment to remote sites.

6. Orchard and vineyard work 

Narrow width allows movement between tree rows without damaging branches or vines. The telescopic boom reaches over irrigation lines and fencing, while gentle handling prevents bruising fruit during harvest operations.

7. Small-scale dairy operations 

Perfect for feed-out in smaller paddocks where larger machines can't access. You can move hay bales, feed supplements, and water troughs precisely without creating ruts in wet conditions or compacting pasture.

See how Richmond Downs Ltd, a 200-hectare dairy farm in the Waikato region, benefited from an Avant loader for their farm applications.

Where Avant Loaders Fall Short

Despite their strengths, Avant loaders aren’t ideal for every task. Here’s where they typically struggle:

Large-scale silage & feed-out operations

High-capacity silage work demands larger buckets and more volume per cycle than Avant can offer. For farms feeding hundreds of heads daily, and out in the wide open spaces, a conventional wheel loader, tractor, or front-end loader offers better efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Heavy earthmoving and infrastructure projects

Heavy earthmoving and farm infrastructure work exceeds what Avant loaders handle. Dam construction, major drainage work, or large-scale land development requires machines with significantly more power and reach.

General farm loading in open paddocks

General farm loading in open paddocks where space isn't restricted often suits conventional loaders better. They offer larger bucket capacities and faster work speeds, while the precision and compact size that make Avant valuable in confined spaces matter less when you have plenty of room to manoeuvre.

Does Avant Fit Your Operation?

Different loader categories serve different purposes. For farming specifically, the choice often comes down to space constraints and surface sensitivity.

The key question isn't whether Avant loaders are good on farms, but whether they match your specific farming applications. They excel in confined spaces, undercover farming, and for tasks requiring precision. They're less suitable for high-volume material handling or heavy earthmoving.

Consider your main tasks, available space, and surface sensitivity. If you're working mainly in open paddocks moving large volumes of material, a conventional farm loader will likely serve you better. If you're working around buildings, handling delicate materials, or need exceptional manoeuvrability, Avant could be exactly what you need.

Most Common Attachments Farmers Use with Avant

One of Avant’s major advantages is its wide attachment range. With over 150 attachments available, a single Avant loader can handle tasks from mowing and sweeping to digging and materials handling. For operations where one machine needs to wear many hats, this range often justifies the investment. These are the most popular attachments for farming applications:

• Light Materials Bucket – For shifting large volumes of animal bedding and mucking out horse stables
• Silage Grabs – Ideal for controlled handling of feed in tight barns
• Bale grabs and forks – Soft handling prevents tearing of silage wrap
• Grain/flour dispenser bucket - A quick and easy way to distribute grain
• Feed Mover Screw – Move feed to animals both to the left or right
• Push Broom – Clean lanes and sheds quickly, perfectly for horse stables, farming, and other small-scale brushing.

One machine, multiple jobs

Avant loaders are purpose-built for specific farming environments. If your operation revolves around barns, delicate flooring, or confined lanes, few machines offer the same combination of control, visibility, and attachment variety.

However, farms with open spaces and large-scale material handling needs should consider traditional front-end loaders or tractors to maximise efficiency and throughput.

Want to see what's possible for your farm? Use our Product Selector tool to find the right Avant model for your specific farming operation requirements.