Choosing a Manure Spreader

[LHF2019]

Probably within a couple years I will be able to upgrade my spreader. Down to 2 styles. Kuhn Knight side slinger which I have had experience with when I had the dairy and really like what I see with the Meyer Crossfire. Smallest model in each. Manure ranges from almost liquid to heavy pen pack. Would also like it to use it for possible future poultry litter. Looking for the most consistent spread pattern and the one that would handle pen pack the best. When I had the dairy it was all sawdust so have no experience how well the side slinger would handle pen pack. With the side slinger I could probably cover more acres especially when utilizing the wind to my favor.

Wondering if anybody has experience with both or has either brand spreading similar material.

Thank you

 

[Hay Dude]

The only ones I have owned were the ones with twin rear beaters. Both were Meyer.
They worked really well with soils like mushroom compost of light topsoil.
You spreading mostly turkey litter? A neighboring farmer uses same type I had for spreading turkey litter and seems to do real well with it.
Don’t have many photos of them, but they worked very well.

I sold them because I found renting to be a less expensive alternative. I can rent a spreader for 2 months and spread 200 acres for about 2 grand.

 

[oldnslo]

What do you consider heavy pen pack?

Long straw, corn stalks, etc. compacted in loafing shed by 1,500 lb cattle and loaded with grapple is far different than chopped straw compacted by 200 lbs calves.

Have not run side spread slinger but have watched neighbor dairy and they do not spread pen pack with the slinger. They have another rear beater spreader they use for that purpose. Again I don’t know why but suspect side slinger jams with heavy pen pack from winter of cattle packing it down and then loaded with grapple on large skid steer.

 

[LHF2019]

The only ones I have owned were the ones with twin rear beaters. Both were Meyer.
They worked really well with soils like mushroom compost of light topsoil.
You spreading mostly turkey litter? A neighboring farmer uses same type I had for spreading turkey litter and seems to do real well with it.

Who knows what I can find for litter in this area. With 40 head and growing need to make the most use of my manure over as many acres as I can and be able to haul to further fields. I hand load one area in the winter so height is a major consideration. Currently borrow my uncles new holland with no end gate. 3 buckets with the skidsteer fills it. With the pen pack it tends to grab it leaving large clumps in the field that in the spring I go through with the drags and try to break them up so they can breakdown and hopefully not end up in the hay I sell.

What do you consider heavy pen pack?

Long straw, corn stalks, etc. compacted in loafing shed by 1,500 lb cattle and loaded with grapple is far different than chopped straw compacted by 200 lbs calves.

Have not run side spread slinger but have watched neighbor dairy and they do not spread pen pack with the slinger. They have another rear beater spreader they use for that purpose. Again I don’t know why but suspect side slinger jams with heavy pen pack from winter of cattle packing it down and then loaded with grapple on large skid steer.

Bed with hay/hay stems refusals. I'm getting that impression from the other site I have this question. I have no doubt that the slinger would spread it but it would be time consuming working it through the door and if you opened it all the way up it would be hard on the hammer unit and potentially plug.