A manure spreader or muck spreader or honey wagon is an agricultural machine used to distribute manure over a field as a fertilizer. A typical (modern) manure spreader consists of a trailer towed behind a tractor with a rotating mechanism driven by the tractor’s power take off

Manure spreaders began as ground-driven units which could be pulled by a horse or team of horses. Many of these ground-driven spreaders are still produced today, mostly in the form of small units that can be pulled behind a larger garden tractor or an all terrain vehicle (ATV). In recent years hydraulic and PTO driven units have been developed to offer variable application rates. Several models are also designed with removable rotating mechanisms (beaters), attachable side extensions, and tailgates for hauling chopped forages, cereal grains, and other crops. A typical (modern) manure spreader consists of a trailer towed behind a tractor with a rotating mechanism driven by the tractor’s power take off (PTO).

How to use a manure spreader.

If you have livestock, then you have manure. It’s just a fact of life. It’s also a fact that you have to clean it up and do something with it. So if you have livestock and manure, you need a manure spreader.

This video is about how to use a Frontier MS1112 Manure Spreader (US CA). We’ve matched it with a John Deere 5100E Utility Tractor (US CA) complete with an operator cab. That’s a pretty nice feature to have on your tractor if you’re going to be spreading manure. Because you can’t always be moving into the wind.

This manure spreader has a heaped capacity of 125 bushels. When fully loaded with dry manure, it will weigh about 4500 pounds (2041 kg). With a load that heavy, it’s important to make sure you have enough stopping power, just in case you need it. That’s another reason we’re using the heavier 5100E Utility Tractor.

The MS1112 is a pull-type implement, so hooking and unhooking is quite simple using a locking pin and clip. And don’t forget the safety chain.

Before each use, it’s a good idea to check the tension of the drive chains in each side of this PTO-driven spreader. Their tensions should be matched as closely as possible, and can be tightened individually with a simple and lock nut mechanism.

The MS1112 manure spreader uses a 2-speed gearbox that controls the speed of the paddle beaters. A simple rope-pull system allows the operator to shift from low to high speed from inside the cab. The coverage you apply to your pasture will depend on your ground speed and the manure spreader gearbox speed setting.

When you’re done, you can also shift to a Clean Out setting, which stops the paddle beaters from turning while the apron continues to push any material out the back of the manure spreader cleaning.