The cost of fertiliser is huge. Not just the initial outlay of buying tonnes of artificial nutrients, but the potential costs that are to come.
As initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of all industries continue to be brought in, greater pressure will be placed on growers to justify or cut every operation that has an environmental impact.
For livestock farmers, there is already an ample source of organic nutrients to maintain yields while cutting artificial fertiliser use.
Farms that are 100% arable, however, can struggle to fill this gap, and the increased versatility of flagship muckspreaders can help address this.
The use of horizontal beaters and spinning discs, as well as other unique designs by some manufacturers, allows these machines to apply not only manures, but poultry litter, compost and semi-solids, including sludge.
The benefits of using these extend beyond the nutrient value, as the organic matter can promote biodiversity and soil health.
Of course, the horizontal set-up has benefits for livestock farmers as well. It remains suitable for standard manure, but can also be used for the finer solids that come from separating slurry – another hot topic as further restrictions on slurry spreading continue to be brought in.
Spreading accurately
The term flagship implies a high level of technology, either for the benefit of the operation or the operator. It’s no different here.
While it is far more difficult to adjust the spread pattern for solid manures in the way you can with boom-applied slurry, there are systems available to increase accuracy and transparency.
Every brand offers weigh cells, which can be linked to various controllers to adjust the floor speed based on both the forward speed and the amount of manure in the machine.
This can be further upgraded with limiters at the spinning discs that control the spread width from the left or right. This can obviously help on field borders, especially when working near waterways.
Then there is the application of liquid manures, which is covered after the muckspreading machines. Multiple methods of application, precision farming systems and stringent regulations make this a key market for updates.
Agri-Hire
Agri-Hire, based in Suffolk, is a family-owned and -run business. It can offer a range of muckspreaders with capacities from 8t up to 50t, equipped with single axles through to triaxles.
The company’s Y-body spinning disc machines generate greater accuracy, control and precision by using two horizontal rotors that mix and chop the product into finer particles, which are dropped onto 1,100mm discs, achieving spread widths of up to 24m.
As an option, spinning-disc machines can be fitted with a hydraulically operated product regulator on the rear door, which can be adjusted to account for the spreading characteristics of different products, as well as a headland management system.
Further precision, monitoring and recording is achieved by the RDS Athene variable-rate system, which can be operated via the tractor’s on-board terminal or stand-alone touchscreen display to provide a clear and ergonomic user interface.
Load cells on the machine measure the weight of product in the spreader and the floor speed is adjusted to achieve the correct target application rate.
More recent updates include an in-house-developed central tyre inflation system, which comprises a large-capacity air tank on the spreader, which is topped up by the tractor’s compressor.
When the tyres need to be reinflated at the end of the operation, this tank is used to transfer air to the tyres.
Fliegl
Fliegl’s latest addition to its muckspreader range is the KDS 255 Muck Control, available with a maximum permissible weight of 18t, 19t or 20t, depending on requirements.
It is mounted on a tandem chassis, with the option to add a steering axle, and has a compact design, enabling it to be filled using a tractor-mounted loader.
The company highlights the wide spreading control unit, which enables a spreading width of up to 26m. The horizontal beaters are said to guarantee a consistent loosening of the material and an even distribution to the spreading discs.
For individual adaptation to different working conditions, the KDS 255 has a hydraulic tailgate with a mechanically adjustable drop angle.
Another special feature is the design of the tailgate. It consists of a frame on which plastic panels are mounted. These are less susceptible to damage from stones or rocks and corrosive materials than a steel rear wall.
The scraper floor is equipped with V2 chain links and has a breaking load of 50t per chain strand.
The scraper floor bars are continuous across the entire width of the body and a stone guard is mounted on the front wall to protect the tractor unit from falling stones.
GT Bunning
Bunning has several flagship Horizontal Beater and Spinning Disc (HBD) models in both single- and tandem-axle variants.
The high-capacity twin-axle spreaders are part of the Lowlander Widebody HBD range, with three models suited to UK users – 230 HBD, 250 HBD and 280 HBD. In the single-axle models, the highest-output models are the two spreaders in the Lowlander HD MK2 range – a 150 HD HBD and 175 HD HBD.
All spreaders can be built weigh-cell ready with an optional Isobus rate controller system to improve application accuracy.
Weigh cells allow the operator to enter a target rate into the controller, which the spreader will then achieve by controlling the floor speed in relation to the tractor’s forward speed and product weight reduction.
Two Isobus touchscreens are available for improved operation separate to the tractor’s terminal – a 7in Topcon iD1 and 12in Topcon XD+ are compatible with the full range of spreaders.
These high-capacity spreaders feature twin 695mm Widebody horizontal beaters positioned above two 1.1m-diameter spinning discs at the rear.
The larger Widebody models have axles underneath the spreading body for additional height, a wider spreading body, and higher load-carrying capacity. The single-axle Lowlander HD MK2 models retain larger-diameter wheels for improved rolling radius and a lower loading height.
Hi-Spec Engineering
New from Hi-Spec Engineering is the 20t-capacity version of the well-proven Xcel rear-discharge manure spreader. As with the current 12t Xcel 1250, the new model features the patented chain-and-disc spreading system.
Compared to vertical beater spreaders, the system reportedly has the benefit that it can handle a wider range of manures.
The shredding action of the rotor-mounted chains and Hardox steel flails can handle dense manures, which are completely broken down before being evenly spread by the spreading discs.
It also has the benefit that any solid objects that could damage a vertical beater can pass through.
Having passed through the flail rotor, the manure falls onto two gearbox-driven spreading discs. Both discs have shearbolt protection and are fitted with two spreading vanes.
For lighter, dry material such as chicken litter or pellets, six-vane discs are available as an option. Depending on material, the discs give a spread width of up to 24m.
The Xcel 2050 has a hydraulic drawbar and is fitted with a wide-angle PTO. It can be fitted with the Isobus-compatible RDS Apollo spreader control system.
Joskin
The flagship in the Joskin muckspreader range is the Feri-Space Horizon FS8014/28TRU, a wide-body machine offering a 28cu m capacity, with the option of 500mm extensions (fixed or hydraulic on the left side) to increase this by 7.8cu m.
It is fitted with two horizontal beaters as standard, but when fitted with the extensions, an additional beater is fitted. This drops the diameter of the beaters down from 600mm to 525mm.
These run at 320rpm, breaking up product before dropping it down on the 500rpm spinning discs.
The horizontal beaters are PTO-driven, giving a more accurate working, which the company claims will require less maintenance over the working life than a chain floor drive.
A Ferti-Control FC4000 control unit is equipped as standard. This will operate all the different functions on the spreader, as well as the optional central tyre inflation system and the weighing set-up.
Like all Joskin spreaders, the Ferti-Space Horizon can also be fitted with Isobus for mapping and GPS functions, as well as speed proportional flow metering.
Since the FS8014 is a triaxle machine, it comes as standard with a hydraulic suspension system, double forced steering and hydraulic lifting of the leading axle. The drawbar is also hydraulically suspended as standard.
Ktwo
Sitting at the top of the Ktwo range is the Bio, offering heaped capacities up to 39cu m. Product is broken up with two dynamically balanced, horizontal beaters fitted with boron combed teeth.
These propel muck to the 1,100mm-diameter spinner discs, which are mounted with adjustable boron paddles to spread widths up to 30m.
Part of the design sees the spreader bodies increase from 1,600mm wide at the drawbar to 1,800mm at the beaters to keep a consistent flow of muck to the rear of the machine and minimise the risk of bridging.
Product is carried on a four-chain, twin-slat moving floor, driven by a 75mm Rogelberg gearbox.
The body is mounted on commercial-spec axles, with single-, tandem- and triaxle running gear available.
The standard gear also includes a hydraulic slurry door and electric control of the moving floor, enabling in-cab adjustment of the product flow.
For spread control, the rear canopy is sprung-loaded and rubber-lined; this also stops debris from building up around the beaters.
Optional extras for the Bio range include weigh cells and Isobus rate control, enabling the spread to be adjusted based on the weight of the product and the forward speed.
Pichon
A key feature of the Pichon MK range is its ability to quickly switch the vertical beater system over to a horizontal set-up with a spreading table.
This is available on the models from the MK35, which has a maximum volume of 14cu m, with the rest of the range extending up to 24cu m with the MK60T.
The horizontal beaters have a diameter of 800mm, rotating at 400rpm with 32 blades mounted on each beater.
The spreading discs are 1,015mm in diameter, with between three and six adjustable blades available to suit the product being spread.
These rotate at 650rpm. Single and tandem running gear models are available, with commercial-specification brakes and axles used throughout.
The possible spread width is 24m, and there is a range of control systems available to suit different set-ups.
Manual and basic electronic control is available, with automatic flow regulation added with the Master Simple 2F and weighing systems included with the Master Control Pro.
As the systems become more complex, functions such as chain floor speed control, distribution adjustment, weighing, load-sensing hydraulics and a hydraulic power pack become available.
Richard Western
The Delilah DS from Richard Western is a sizeable single-axle machine offering heaped capacities of 15.2cu m or 17.5cu m, while the tandem-axle FBS features a significantly larger body volume, capable of handling heaped capacities of up to 28cu m.
Both can be specified with Topcon Isobus control, which is compatible with variable mapping, and can be linked to four weigh cells on the Delilah range, and six on the FBS.
It’s also possible to adjust the ground speed via GPS, and the FBS can be fitted with hydraulic suspension and front axle lifting.
The 1,100mm-diameter Hardox disk are fitted with three adjustable vanes and reportedly requires very low amounts of PTO power, leading to a reduction in fuel use.
The adjustable vanes enable the adjustment of the material distance, with a 24m overlap ensuring a reliable spread.
The FBS has four 16mm floor chains and six-tooth bolt-together floor sprockets, and the DS model has two 20mm floor chains and seven-tooth bolt-together sprockets.
Auto greasing and hydraulic floor chain tension are common options on these large spreaders, as is a border limiter.
Rolland
Rolland’s flagship model is the Rollforce 6118, coupled with a TCE spinning deck with horizontal rotors, a hydraulic rear hood (for composting windrows) and two spinning discs for a wide, fine spread.
According to the company, one of the most popular options in recent years is an Isobus dynamic weighing system, which provides greater accuracy and traceability.
This can be linked with variable-rate spreading through the customer’s on-farm mapping software.
Operators can set the desired dose rate and spread width, using data from the weigh cells on the drawbar and the axle weights, which are monitored every few seconds.
When required, the bed, which is linked through sensors, will speed up or slow down, ensuring the required dose is met.
The information can be transferred directly through a cable into the tractor’s Isobus or through the company’s Rollcontrol Isocan touchscreen controller.
This can run four functions through the box, including bed forward and reverse, the slurry door, rear hood and headland control.
The TCE is Rolland’s flagship spreader, built around longstanding company designs, with various updates and new technologies added since the launch.
Samson
There is a comprehensive range available from Samson, starting with the Flex II, which can be specified with either vertical or horizontal beaters.
The latter enables lighter materials to be spread up to 24m, with application rates of up to 50t/ha possible. The Flex II is a single-axle model with a capacity of 20cu m.
For larger-scale operations, the US range offers capacities of 23-40cu m, available with either tandem- or triaxle running gear.
Hydraulic suspension comes as standard, with electric steering on the front axle on all models, as well as the rear axle on triaxle machines.
Product is spread with 1,220mm-diameter discs, each fitted with four deflector wings.
It is possible to adjust both the spinning discs and the tailgate to change the spread pattern of the machine, and when the SpreadMaster 8500 control system is specified, operators can also use variable-rate application, static and dynamic weighing and spreading based on mapping.
The machine is equipped with four 14×50 marine chains with L-shaped carriers. Each chain has a tensile strength of 24,000kg.
It also has a patented hydraulic tensioning system on the carpet chain. This reduces wear on the chain, minimising the risk of breakage.
Shelbourne Reynolds
Shelbourne Reynolds’ Powerspread side-discharge machines are said to offer greater versatility, capable of applying solid, semi-solid and liquid materials, including dry poultry litter and industrial waste.
The range features the general-purpose Powerspread Dairy, and the Powerspread Pro (SWB) small-bodied machines and Powerspread Pro (LWB) large-bodied, with capacities maxing out at just over 14,500 litres, each suited to large mixed farms and contractors.
The LWB can also be fitted with tandem axles and a rear steering system to improve manoeuvrability.
It uses a full-length rotating auger operating at 13mph, which pulls manure from both the front and rear of the spreader to the discharge rotor, which is located centrally on the right-hand side for ease of operation.
The hydraulically lifted door opens vertically, allowing the full width of the impeller to be used.
An optional new weigh scale for Powerspread Pro (SWB and LWB) models is designed to allow users to manage application rates more efficiently.
The system features three 90mm load cells – two on the axle and one on the drawbar, each with a maximum 10t capacity. The scale head is mounted in the tractor cab for operation.
Teagle
Sitting at the top of the Teagle muckspreader range is the Titan 15 and 17 Pro models, offering capacities up to 20.1cu m depending on whether extensions are fitted.
Boron steel beaters make up part of the standard specification, as well as a rear slurry door and commercial axles with air or hydraulic brakes.
Weigh cells are available that can be linked to the Athene Isobus system to enable variable-rate application. There is also the option of bed speed control, enabling the operator to quickly adjust the bed speed based on the quality and texture of the muck being spread. If a blockage occurs, it is also possible to reverse the bed.
To increase the versatility of the Titan, it is possible to specify beater tips designed for lighter materials such as poultry litter and compost.
These two top models require 150hp or 170hp, respectively, with a sprung drawbar available on the
options list.
Key to the Teagle range is that many of these specifications and options run down from the flagship model through to the compact range, enabling technology to be used on smaller and medium-sized farms.