Making the most of organic manures could have more significance this year than ever, so having the right muck spreader for the job should help operations run smoothly. CPM rounds up some of the models on the market.
An even feed to the rotors is also important
By Melanie Jenkins
With the price of inorganic fertilisers hitting all-time highs in the past year, organic manures provide an even more important source of nutrients at a time when application practices are under the spotlight. But it’s not a straightforward case of switching as nutrient levels in any organic manures are variable, plus growers are having to keep abreast of the Farming Rules for Water, with new guidance on the rules being released back in June.
Having the right machine can help farmers optimise applications, employ variable rate spread and switch between different constituents. Here are some of different options on the market.
Richard Western
A key principle of Richard Western’s Delilah range of muck spreaders is larger diameter boron steel rotors. “We use units of 890mm diameter on the D4100, D4120 models and below, and 1100mm diameter on the D4130 and D4150, with optional fitment on the D4100,” explains the firm’s Angus Western. “Their arrangement, with a significant overlap, ensures full shredding of material across an extensive range of manures, composts and sludges, a critical aspect of getting a thorough and even distribution and breakdown of material and release of the nutrients it contains across the full field profile.
“The 1100mm rotors have a disc base with three blades and replaceable wearing parts, while the option of a hydraulic-folding canopy door or removable hood allows the spreaders use as a vertical beater machine or, with the doors closed or hood attached, as a spinning disc spreader,” explains Angus.
“An even feed to the rotors is also important. To ensure this, the hydraulically driven floor on Delilah spreaders is powered by two 16mm floor chains and a 65mm rear floor shaft on models up to the 12.2m³ capacity D4120, with 20mm chains and an 80mm shaft on the largest D4130 and D4150 machines (12.2/14.4m³). Fitment of a slat between every fifth chain link of the floor bed provides consistent load to the rotors, ensuring an even spread pattern without pulsing.”
The body of the Delilah spreaders is constructed with 6mm floor panels and 4mm side panels, is 1550mm wide, with a flared top to create a wide loading area for easy loading, to reduce spillage and a aid a fast turnaround.
SpreadPoint
SpreadPoint’s R.1050 rotary spreader has a unique five-axis rotor and five rows of chains.
SpreadPoint’s R.1050 rotary spreader has a unique five-axis rotor and five rows of chains. This reinvented design should chop finer and run smoother, says the firm. The movement to a staggered five-axis has been achieved using modern manufacturing techniques allowing the rotor tube to be lasered to ensure each chain is mounted with 0.1mm accuracy.
The R.1050 is constructed with an extra rigid drawbar to reduce flex around the drive system, increasing the life of the chain system. Stopping comes from an oversized axle and brake with twin braking rams.
Fine spreading is achieved by the new five-axis rotor which can chop the most demanding of manures. The lid comes to 12-o’clock on the barrel, allowing material the be thrown further.
The spreader operates with 550/60R22.4 tyres and the removable mudguards as standard should increase safety on the road.
According to SpreadPoint, this is the only spreader on the market that the PTO shaft doesn’t need to be removed to grease the drive bearings. All four-hole flange bearings are used for added durability.
Pichon
Pichon’s new MK series consists of 12 models from 10-24m2.
The French leader in the slurry tanker market, Pichon, has diversified by launching its own series of MK solid manure spreaders in the autumn of 2021.
The new MK series consists of 12 models from 10-24m³. They are a simple, robust design, with a narrow body and large diameter vertical beater bars. The large diameter and high rotation speed of the beaters should ensure that a wide range of products can be evenly distributed and a high throughput maintained, even at the end of the spreading process, claims the firm.
Working width extends to 24m with a spreading table. The new models can be equipped with various options: guillotine door, hydraulic power unit, side deflectors, hydraulic belt tension, body extensions, etc. The range of in-cab control units meets the needs of each user, depending on the type of precision required (from simple manual adjustment to ISOBUS, DPA, weighing).
The new design of the spreader mainly affects the front panel and the mudguards. As well as the aesthetic aspect, the design of the body aims to optimise the loading volume and facilitates the fertiliser discharge.
The front bonnet has been redesigned with a rounded shape to provide a better view of the belt from the cab. Opening and closing the bonnet is also made easier with the addition of a handle and strap.
The new mudguards avoid the build-up of material, and an optional extension allows the wheel to be completely covered to accommodate different tyre sizes. The jack fixing system is simplified and now adjustable in height, it can therefore be adapted to different hitch heights and wheel sizes. The pivoting system also makes it easier to attach the boom transmission.
Agri Hire
Agri Hire’s Magnum spinning disc spreaders are a heavy duty, high capacity and high output range that have been designed for both large scale farmers and contractors who wish to spread a variety of products up to 24m widths. The Magnum range is available from 20-50t capacities on tandem or triple axles.
These machines come standard with heavy duty construction four 20mm floor chains (200t pull), large floor drive gearboxes, 70mm rear shaft, 850mm diameter rotors and large 1100mm diameter spinning discs.
Optional extras include, vision hatch, slurry door and height indicator, plus work lights.
Fliegl
Fliegl’s ADS push-off manure spreader combines its push-off technology with powerful spreader mechanisms for solid manure application.
Fliegl’s ADS push-off manure spreader combines the patented Fliegl technology with powerful spreader mechanisms for solid manure application. It’s designed to be low maintenance and durable. Even on steep terrain, the ADS should travel and distribute safely – thanks to its low centre of gravity and wide track, according to the firm. With a maximum spreading width of approximately 12m, spreading pattern is adjustable via a hydraulic drawbar tilt cylinder on some models.
A hydraulic drawbar suspension ensures maximum travel comfort on some models and mud guards are included in the 40km/h version.
There are five single-axle trailers (6, 8, 10,12 or 14t gross vehicle weight) and two, two-axle trailers with 16t or 20t gross vehicle weight. The volumes of their steel troughs vary between 6-19m³.
Fliegl’s hydraulic sliding system is constructed without sensitive components for minimal wear and tear. The material feeds evenly to the spreader mechanism and completely empties the trough – including the floor.
Customers can select from a range of options including, feed control by electric potentiometer or Vario Sens Light ISOBUS electronic regulating and control system.
The basic ADS 60 is equipped with four stationary rollers, and all other models with the robust Profi V2 spreader mechanism or the low mounted variant V2n (on the ADS 80 and ADS 100). On the V2 a fully galvanised push bar is standard; the spreader mechanism bearings are designed to be easy to maintain via a central lubrication bar. The smooth-running swing thrower operates gently and is low-maintenance and foreign objects shouldn’t damage it.
Ktwo
The Ktwo Duo range of twin vertical beater rear discharge muck spreaders offers a wide range of models to suit most farmers and contractors looking for a versatile manure spreader, capable of spreading a range of products with good accuracy and outputs. Available in capacities of 6-14t (9.8–23.2m³) and with a wide range of optional extras, the Duo can be specified to suit most requirements.
Standard specifications on the Duo range consists of open flighted dynamically balanced rotors with Ktwo’s unique stepped rotor design, stepped rotor flights to increase rotor strength and 417rpm rotor speeds. Larger bottom spinner paddles for wider spreading widths are included, plus rotor teeth made from hardened boron steel with 16mm bolt holes and single piece Rogelberg rotor gearbox.
Agri-Spread’s VB Pro range is offered in six capacities/models from 6-12t single axle models.
Agri-Spread
Agri-Spread International range of vertical beater rear discharge manure spreaders, the VB Pro series, builds on the previous AS Series vertical beater range which spanned well over a 10-year period.
The VB Pro range is offered in six capacities/models from 6-12t single axle models. These are capable of handling a wide range of manures, biosolids and compost types to achieve accurate spread patterns for small, medium and large-scale farming/contracting operations which are especially suited and designed for harsh conditions and applications, says the firm.
Bunning
Bunning has a brace of new in-cab screen options along with a mobile app, allowing operators to monitor the weight of the spreader contents from the loader.
Bunning has a brace of new in-cab screen options along with a mobile app, which allows operators to monitor the weight of the spreader contents from the loader.
The Topcon XD and XD+ ISOBUS screens, in both 18cm and 31cm displays, are options on all its weigh-cell equipped spreaders. This allows users running non-ISOBUS compatible tractors to achieve increased functionality with the screens, including basic guidance and task management, according to the firm.
Alongside this, operators using an ISOBUS weigh cell system have the option for the loader driver to view the real-time weight of the spreader contents via the Topcon ‘Cab Control’ app on a smartphone or tablet.
The upshot here should be that there’s no need to stop loading to check the weight of the material in the spreader, as the read-out is mirrored from the tractor cab, according to Bunning. Using the device should virtually eliminate any overloading and it can also be used for weighing varying product quantities.
The redesigned Lowlander 120 HY TVA (Twin Vertical Augers), with a new curved bottom spreader deck aims to limit material build-up behind the augers and ensure all the material is forced onto the large diameter bottom blades.
Further tweaks include a restyled auger base with replaceable boron blades. The blades are now mounted in a lower position to improve distribution and limit excess wear on the auger base.
Vredo
Those after a self-propelled machine might be interested to see the new Vredo Trac VT5536. According to the firm, this new machine has been designed to match the needs of the modern agricultural contractor. The VT5536 is compatible with Trimble or John Deere GPS-RTK system with optional NIR and section lock.
The new Scania DC13 Stage V engine with 2465Nm torque at 1350rpm/min, provides a maximum power of 550hp. The VT5536 is equipped with a pump filter unit with a 12m³ displacement pump as standard and with the optionally available Vredo High Performance Loading Technology (VHP). This increases the loading capacity to 16,000 litres per min, filling the 22m³ tank within one and a half minutes. The suction arm concept should ensure loading at both the left and right side of the machine.
The compact construction combined with steering axles should mean the machine is manoeuvrable and easy to turn at the end of the field, says Vredo. Due to the fact that there’s hardly any part of the machine in front of the front axle, it is easy to steer in and out of every field. The combination of 2WD and 4WD crab steering, optimised weight distribution and driven axles should ensure that the machines can be used in the field as early as the beginning of spring. And due to the optional tyre pressure adjustment system (BDWS), there is minimal soil compaction, adds the firm.
The VVT550 transmission – newly developed by Vredo – with a fully infinitely variable range between 0 and 40 km/h, should allow the machine to drive at the right working speed with the optimal engine speed in any situation, says the company. In addition, the ‘low rpm concept’ is used, which allows 40km/h to be driven at only 1080rpm.
The detachable pump filter unit and the easily removable manure tank means the VT5536 can be used in a multifunctional way as well and can also be used as tool carrier. Apart from manure spreading, the Vredo is also very suitable for jobs such as pushing silage.
The spacious, quiet and sprung cabin comes with automatic air conditioning, Grammer Maximo Super-Comfort seat, multifunction displays and an easily steerable, ergonomic joystick with many combined features, as standard. All this in combination with the renewed VTC 2.0 Vredo Trac Control system aims to makes the working day for the driver a lot more pleasant, explains the company.
The polyester tank has a capacity of 22m³, in combination with the low weight of 19.7t. Thanks to this low weight, the machine is RDW-approved on two axles and remains within the 3m external width. The short construction of the linkage should ensure a small distance to the attachment, thus optimising weight transfer.
This article was taken from the latest issue of CPM. For more articles like this, subscribe here.
