What size manure spreader for an L3830?

[aczlan]

We are looking at getting PTO driven manure spreader for our L3830 to replace our little ground driven one.
What size spreader is recommended for this size tractor?

Aaron Z

 

[art]

I'd have to ask what are you spreading for and how often do you want to do it? You would look funny with a 25 bu spreader and a 100 to 175 probably could be pulled most of the year.

In this area it hard to find a good used one any more because most dairy farms have gone to V-spreaders. On another note the manure from a dairy is so rich that they don't last to long under that application.. Horse farmers still can have the same spreader after 30 years!

 

[aczlan]

We are buying a property that comes with 2 horses.
We would like to be able to spread the manure from them as well as the manure from 1 cow, 4 llamas and roughly 8 goats.
Our current spreader is a ground driven one that holds ~30 bushels (by my rough guess). It is sized for the B7500, but it is hard to spread and load with the same tractor (no loader on the L3830).
Going to a slightly larger spreader that is PTO powered would make it easier to spread manure.

Aaron Z

 

[art]

The PTO drive also is nice in NY so you could stack it during the winter.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I'd look for something in the 75 to 100bu range, a L3830 could handle either nicely.

 

[aczlan]

The PTO drive also is nice in NY so you could stack it during the winter.

Hadn't thought of that. Good point, I was mainly thinking of being able to spread as much as I wanted on the garden without having to drive over it again and again

I'd look for something in the 75 to 100bu range, a L3830 could handle either nicely.

That is what I was thinking after finally finding some specs on what they wanted for PTO hp.

Aaron Z

 

[Learning to Farm]

I have a 90 bu and love it (for 25 horses). I compost the manure and spread it over 28 acres. Just a few words of suggestion, compost it, it is to hot to spread straight from the barn. Where we are, any farm with more than 10 animal units has to get a nutrient management plan, it is free but you have to sample your soil and compost as a "fertilizer".

 

[canoetrpr]

I have a Kubota L3400 which has less PTO HP than yours and is a less beefy tractor by far and I pull a NI 210 bushel spreader. I was worried about it being too big for my tractor to handle but it pulls it like a champ. I don't overload it that is all.

I think anything in the 130 to -220 bushel range is perfectly fine. I searched and found mine on kijiji - bought it sight unseen and it has been great.

One problem you might run into is finding a second tractor to pull it. If you are loading with the 7500 and spreading with the 3830 you are in good shape. I am currently on the look out for an older tractor just to pull the spreader. I'm tired of having to unhook it, load and re-hook. Just takes too much time.

 

[aczlan]

I have a 90 bu and love it (for 25 horses). I compost the manure and spread it over 28 acres. Just a few words of suggestion, compost it, it is to hot to spread straight from the barn. Where we are, any farm with more than 10 animal units has to get a nutrient management plan, it is free but you have to sample your soil and compost as a "fertilizer".

We will be composting it first. We currently have a manure pile that sits for a year or so which we spread on the garden in the spring. That lets it "cool down" come (not that goat/llama manure needs to "cool" much, but we only need it once a year)

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

One problem you might run into is finding a second tractor to pull it. If you are loading with the 7500 and spreading with the 3830 you are in good shape. I am currently on the look out for an older tractor just to pull the spreader. I'm tired of having to unhook it, load and re-hook. Just takes too much time.

I agree. We currently load with the B7500 and spread with the L3830 (which does not have a loader), but the L3830 is a little overkill for the little spreader.

Aaron Z