2:42 a.m. - 2010-04-09
Dairy farming business
Manure spreaders have been used by generation of farmers around the world in order to properly manage and maintain their organic fertilizer systems. Since crop rotation and the mechanized devices such as tractors invaded the family farm, growing crops has never been the same. This article will attempt to explain some of the history of manure spreaders and how this simple machine changed history.

History of Manure Spreaders

It was during the Industrial Revolution that two farmers turned inventors from Ohio, USA developed the first working mechanical manure spreaders. These first spreaders were based on wagon bodies and were pulled behind teams of mules or horses.

The New Idea Company (under various owners and names) has made manure spreaders and other mechanized farming machines ever since and recently celebrated its 100 year old anniversary in 1999 as a division of the AGCO Corporation.

Types of Muck Spreaders

Slurry or mucks normally come from swine or dairy farm operation where the livestock is housed over slatted floors and all animal wastes are washed down through the floors into holding pits.

But due to concerns about the environmental concerns of waster water runoff and the development of subdivisions closer and closer to previously rural livestock farms, the honey wagon is being rapid replaced in North America by the manure injector.

With these newer injectors manure is applied directed below the surface of the soil which allows rapid absorption by plants and makes manure spreading less offensive for the neighbors.

Solid waste muck spreaders have either side or rear holding bins. Using a mechanical "shredder and spreader" device, manure is picked up from inside the holding bin, separated into smaller pieces and flung into the air to land on the surrounding ground.

How Manure Spreaders Are Powered

A tractor with a PTO uses a specially designed driveshaft to provide mechanical power for an attachment or separate farm machine.

Ground-driven manure spreaders use a beater-driver that rolls along the surface of the ground and uses the momentum of the ATV or tractor to distribute the dried or partially dried manure.
I would be interested in seeing the hard data for the benchmark herds achieving cull rates of 28% with an consistently under 150,000. There are many sources of data that do not support this information. JDS studies routinely provide data noting both the prevalence of mastitis and the rate of both clinical and sub-clinical infections that are well above the NMC goals. DHIA data for the years 1999 through 2006 shows that 25% to 33% of herds five of the top Dairy Farming run an SCC greater than 400,000. The University of Minnesota estimated that less than 26% of the herds in that state are capable of meeting a legal limit of 400,000. Consider that the Michigan State University herd has successfully achieved one of the lowest SCCs in the nation for the second year in a row with a cull rate of 45.7% according to a recent article in Hoards Dairyman. I would be interested in knowing how cull rate is defined relative to a benchmark of 28%. What are the specific cow numbers that are divided to achieve that number? The NASS data at their web site (http://www.nass.usda.gov/index.asp) has a quick stats section that enables users to determine the total cow count in the US and by state for the past few decades. It also provides data for replacements. Their data shows that the rate of culling has consistently grown since around 1970. Prior to that date the rate was flat and it then ramped up measurably. It has since nearly doubled regardless of changes in management styles during the past few decades. In the past few years sexed semen has been introduced to support this increased rate and has been mentioned in recent dairy articles by farmers as being their solution to maintaining herd size. A review of herd DHI data will show that a herd of 70% and more first and second calf heifers is common. The abundance of data suggests that dairy farmers are struggling with mastitis and culling in an attempt to address mastitis and the associated problems of breeding, production, udder/milk quality etc. The question to be asked is what is the business model that supports investing nearly two years into raising an animal and then getting only two years of production from her before sending her to beef? Other industries don't expend such resources on capital investments to loose them in such a short time period. Is there any source of objective data to show that at least 50% of the dairy farms are achieving the NMC goals and the combined cull rates of 28% with SCC under 150,000? Dairy farmers need a means of achieving these goals in a cost effective manner.

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