Duo Muck Spreaders - Case Study

30k pigs, 15k tonnes of manure, 1 K Two spreader.

Cliff Garrod is one of Norfolks best known pig famers, fattening around 30,000 pigs on sites around Attleborough. Bringing in weaners at 6 kg, he rears them in outdoor pig tents for up to ten weeks to 40 kg before finishing to a live weight of 105 kg indoors.

Over the ten weeks outdoor stage, they
produce around 3,000 tonnes of muck!

He has based his successful business on self-sufficiency and trading muck for straw litter from neighbouring farmers. Self-sufficiency includes having established his own transport business to haul the pigs to a range of customers including Waitrose Supermarkets.

In 2008 he decided that contracting in the muck spreading aspect of the operation no longer made financial sense. ìWe had the labour, the tractors and the loaders, and thought we might as well do the other bitî, explained Mr Garrod.

The K Two Duo range features vertical beaters for high throughput giving an accurate spread pattern of 9 to 12 m. By finely shreading and spreading the material quickly and evenly, the required number of passes is reduced, saving time and minimising ground compaction. Capacities range from 6 to 14 tonnes.

Moving components have been kept to a minimum to achieve continuous output under intensive use. Beaters are shear bolt protected and shock damped with a direct gearbox drive. Other features include reversible, replacement beater teeth, large wheels, generous ground clearance and low loading height.

The four floor chains are hydraulically driven with a final gearbox reduction. Infinitely variable speed ensures full application rate control with the added facility of reverse. The marine specification floor chains, rated for 80 tonnes of pulling strength, are covered by a lifelong guarantee. Slurry doors are available for semi-solids.