Billed as the ultimate loader tractor, we were keen to find out if Massey Ferguson’s claims regarding its 5600 Series were justified. James Rickard puts one to the test on-farm.

With the old Massey Ferguson 5400 Series renowned as being one of the best loader tractors in the industry, and also pretty handy in the field, it looks as though the new 5600 Series tractors have some serious boots to fill.

The manufacturer has put a lot of effort into retaining its status as ‘the ultimate loader tractor’ manufacturer, with a host of upgrades and new features. These include a brake-to-neutral function, integrated tractor controls on the loader joystick, more transmission adjustment, new engines, and new styling – both internally and externally.

Six models make up the series, ranging from 85hp to 130hp. The three smallest models get three-cylinder AgcoPower engines, said to produce more power and torque than their counterparts, while the three larger models get four cylinders.

There are also two levels of spec to choose from; Essential or Efficient, with the main difference being the control layout. While the ‘T’-bar for transmission control, electro-hydraulic loader joystick and various hydraulic functions can all be mounted on the armrest on Efficient-spec machines, for Essential-spec, all controls, along with a mechanical loader joystick, are mounted on the right-hand console.

While both specs are an option on four-cylinder models, only the Essential is available on three cylinders. However, Essential specification is not too shabby and could be considered high-spec when compared to competition.

Our test model was the 5610, the largest of the three-cylinder machines, producing 105hp. With the three-cylinder versions, you get one less thing to worry about – AdBlue. The smaller machines just make do with exhaust gas recirculation and a diesel oxidation catalyst to clean up emissions.

Options on our model included a factory-fitted 946 loader with parallel lift – capable of lifting 1.9 tonnes to 3.75 metres (12ft 4in) – cab suspension and twin hydraulic pumps giving 100 litres/min of oil flow.

In terms of rear-end and lift performance, it would be comparable to the old 5440 or 5450, but power-wise it is closer to the larger-framed 5455 (depending on era).

To test the ‘ultimate loader’ credentials, we took it to a beef and dairy farm and tasked it with mucking out buildings, shifting straw and loading fertiliser. Its three-pot power-plant also came under scrutiny as it was put it to work on a rotary muck spreader.