Spread-a-Bale’s newly launched ST (Side Throw) header option is providing an answer for livestock farmers seeking to mechanise straw spreading in buildings with narrow doors and passageways from 2m wide.

The end-mounted ST features one vertical rotor spreading straw to the left or right or forward, with a 0.8m wide spread pattern and 4m to 8m throw. The left or right-hand side discharge is facilitated by the turn of a valve and canopy. The head can be fitted to any Spread-a-Bale M range model – Micro, Mini, Midi or Maxi – mounted on narrow front-end materials handler models up to 2m wide.

The new header option has already been recognised with two major awards.

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It received a certificate of commendation by the RHASS at the Royal Highland and at LAMMA it collected the Gold Livestock Innovation Award 2024, an accolade made in recognition of, and to reward, innovation and celebrate cutting-edge technology and equipment. LAMMA Innovation Award judge, Fram Farmers’ CEO Andrew Knowles, commented: “We were impressed by the ST’s left/right spreading ability, its minimal use of dust suppressant, and efficient energy usage.”

Spread-a-Bale’s Michael Hughes explained: “The ST’s design and development was led by farmers themselves expressing interest in a Spread-a-Bale machine. However, their livestock accommodation’s doors and passageways were too narrow for our existing M range models.

“The ST subsequently solves the problem for all farmers with access points measuring from 2m wide who are seeking to mechanise straw spreading without the dust generated by a turbine chopper machine. Furthermore, Spread-a-Bale offers a fast operation – approximately one minute to load and de-twine followed by less than one minute to discharge and spread. Only one loader is required, no second tractor and pneumatic spreader tied-up.”

A recent Harper Adams University study on spreading straw with a Spread-a-Bale machine concluded it took 50% less time to load and spread one bale and 75% less fuel usage was recorded compared with a turbine straw processor. In addition, straw spread with the Spread-a-Bale machine remained 20% longer resulting in a deeper bed, he explains.

Spread-a-Bale users consistently report they are saving up to 75% labour and 50% straw after switching from manual spreading, and themselves remaining safe outside the pen.

Farmers are beginning to realise the benefits of introducing the ST to save time, straw and labour, and improve their overall efficiency. They include south east-based John Bunting who manages a 3000-head weaner finisher unit.“We’ve halved the time spent each day bedding the pens with up to nine round bales to just one hour a day since going from manual spreading to investing in the ST. In fact, it’s one of the few bits of kit on the farm we use every day, and it’s one we simply couldn’t do without,” he says.

John’s ST is fitted to Spread-a-Bale’s Micro model which appeals to owners of 1t capacity loaders. The Micro ST combines a 695kg lightweight steel chassis and bracketing system and measures 1.735m wide. The machine spreads five round straw bales or half a rectangular bale and offers a longitudinal spread pattern of 0.8m wide and up to 8m throw, with minimum dust.

“The machine perfectly fits on to our JCB 403 manoeuvring down our 3m wide passageways. We are now not only able to save time and labour, but it is also enabling us to spread straw up to 5m and exactly where we want it, direct into each pen. Furthermore, the Micro ST is providing a more even spread of straw than we could achieve manually spreading, so it’s a more comfortable bed for the pigs. In turn, it’s eventually resulting in muck that’s more consistent, and easier to handle and spread.”

He adds: “While we’ve mechanised straw spreading, there’s no chopping or blowing. Spread-a-Bale retains the straw in virtually the same length as it was combined and baled, consequently dust is minimised together with health and welfare issues. It also offers a safe working environment for me inside the sealed JCB cab, instead of throwing straw down from above the pens.”