A chaff cutter is an agricultural machine used to cut straw, hay, grass, maize stalks, and other fodder into small pieces (chaff) for feeding livestock such as cattle, goats, and sheep. It is commonly used on farms to improve feed efficiency and reduce waste. The main components include a feeding hopper, cutting blades (mounted on a rotating flywheel or drum), a shaft, a power source (manual, electric motor, or diesel engine), and an outlet chute. The machine is usually mounted on a sturdy frame for stability during operation.

In operation, raw fodder is fed into the hopper, where it is guided toward the rotating cutting blades. As the blades spin at high speed, they slice the material into small, uniform pieces. The chopped fodder is then discharged through the outlet chute for collection. The size of the cut pieces can often be adjusted by changing blade settings or feed rate. Powered chaff cutters use an engine or motor to drive the cutting mechanism, while manual versions rely on hand cranking. Chaff cutters are valued for improving animal digestion, reducing feed wastage, and making storage and handling of fodder easier.