One of the most essential jobs in the livestock farming world is the cutting and gathering of fodder for livestock.

When horses reigned supreme on the grassland mowing and gathering were time consuming activities, even as early mechanisation eased some of the burden.

In this DVD we trace the history of the forage harvester from the embryonic American designs to tractor drawn implements of increasing sophistication.

From the '80s onwards we see the rapid development and advancement of self-propelled machines into the twin engined monsters we know today, such as the Krone Big X.

Stand alone mowers are also examined, as well as the essential balers and bale wrappers which all play their parts in hay making, silage harvesting and crop drying processes.

Special features in addition to the main programme shine the spotlight on equipment used by one particular forage-harvesting contractor, harvesting of maize for forage and feeding of the end product during the winter months, all nicely wrapping up the story that is 'Monsters of the Grassland'.