Choosing a Manure Spreader

[LHF2019]

Some pictures from yesterday. I try hard to not waste hay but the cattle still pull more through than what I like so it was a good representation of what I spread in the spring when I clean them out. A baler with a processor is in the future. Enough about that. Using a small NH 213. What I like about it is back in the day spreaders had 5 speeds. I did not know that and the slowest speed is just about perfect. I would love to find a 2nd beater because I'm curious if it would help that much or not. Question. With the single beater it grabs the chunk and flips it on to the ground. Depending on the circumstance wouldn't the 2nd beater just assist and pull it off with the same results? I can see the top beater helping on tall loads but what happens with large chunks? I spend a lot of time trying to break up the chunks. I put thought in to where i dump in the spreader that hopefully results in it broken up the most. But it is a small spreader and it does limit me.

Currently I spread about 3 loads a week from November through May. Main goal is to not have to go through in the spring and run the drags to break up the clumps. Obviously the clump in the picture will be there in the spring and it is actually to large for the drags to do much to it. Sometimes I take a fork out and break it up. I don't have time for that. In the spring when I clean the pens out I probably do an additional 20-30 loads. Takes 3 buckets to fill the spreader and I don't max it out. Only heap it up if I feel it will result in a nice spread job.