During silage harvesting, large quantities of fodder have to be placed in the silo within the shortest possible time and compacted without air entrapment. The biggest challenge is usually to be able to process the ever-increasing quantities of forage without having to fear a loss of silage quality. In this article you will learn everything about silage spreaders and the advantages they offer when ensiling. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the exact functioning of the silage spreader, the different types of drive and also the differences between rotary and drum silage distributors.
Function and purpose of a silage spreader
During consultation we often hear the question “What is the point of a silage distributor? – In short, we can answer that a silage spreader evenly distributes the green forage in the silo and thus optimally prepares the individual layers for the rolling process. The rotating movement of the drum – in conjunction with the throwing vanes mounted on it – creates a homogeneous spread pattern right up to the edge of the bunker silo. This ensures that the layer thickness is reduced and shaped as quickly as possible after the forage has been unloaded. If the grass is not distributed evenly in the bunker silo, isolated air pockets can form. These air pockets develop into so-called “faulty fermentation” in the silage stock after the fermentation process of the silage, so that the silage quality is massively impaired at this point and the forage heats up slightly at high temperatures.
The silage spreader is usually driven by the tractor’s power take-off, whereby a distinction is made here between front-mounted and rear-mounted. Nowadays, however, it is common in most cases to use the distributor at the front of the tractor in order to have a good view of the fodder to be distributed. So by operating the PTO clutch on the tractor, the front or rear PTO is activated and the drum of the silage spreader starts to rotate.
Another positive effect of a silage spreader is the time saved during ensiling: The biggest bottleneck in harvesting often occurs in the bunker silo, so that the loader wagon sometimes has to wait until the roller vehicle has finished its work. Due to the resulting hectic pace, errors in distribution can easily occur or the silage is insufficiently compacted – a fatal error that only becomes noticeable after the silo has been opened due to reheating or even mould formation. With the help of a silage distributor, the grass is distributed quickly, stress is reduced and there is more time for rolling.
Different types of silage spreaders
Every silo and every forage has different requirements. Many factors – such as the composition of the forage, the width and length of the silo and the unloading height of the loader wagon – influence the way the silage is distributed. In order to meet these demands, MAMMUT offers a wide range of different series in distribution technology:
Drum silage spreader SILO FOX
The drum silage spreader SILO FOX is equipped with two horizontal drums that distribute the grass without gaps in the flat silo through the rotating movement. This system is ideal when distributing to the front and working in a narrow but long silo, for example. In addition, drum distributors bring advantages when it comes to unloading height – the largest model in the SILO FOX series has a diameter of 1.48 m including throwing buckets.
Rotary silage spreader SILO TWIST
However, if you prefer to distribute the harvested fodder across the width, the SILO TWIST rotor silage spreader is a good choice. The rotary silage distributors perform well in rather wider silo systems and often manage the entire distribution process with the two rotors in just one or two passes. These units are also driven by the tractor’s power take-off shaft as standard, which means that the rotors start to turn outwards and the grass is distributed just as evenly in the silo. A plus point with the roundabout spreaders are the optional swath cloths, which also make it possible to work without silo walls without any problems.
Silage spreader for front attachment
Another distinguishing feature is the connection of the distributor to the tractor: Here, a distinction is made between silage distributors for front mounting and those devices that are used exclusively in the rear of the tractor. Nowadays, however, the front-mounted version is chosen in most cases, as the overview of the distribution process is simply more convenient. With this solution, a reversing gearbox is installed in the machine, which enables it to be used in both the rear and front hydraulics of the tractor. The direction of rotation of the PTO shaft and the speed of rotation are adjusted for front-mounted silage spreaders by means of an included reduction gear.
Useful accessories for your silage spreader
Advantages of a hydraulic drive for silage spreaders
Wheel loaders are becoming more and more important on farms – due to the articulated steering, the lifting power and the sometimes high operating weight, these carrier vehicles can be used well for silage removal or also for fodder distribution in the bunker silo. We are also noticing a strong trend in the use of our silage spreaders on wheel loaders : All silage spreaders from MAMMUT can be equipped with a hydraulic drive on request. This allows the machine to be operated with a wheel loader or telescopic loader, thus ensuring a wide range of applications during the harvesting season. In the dairy country par excellence – the Netherlands – silage spreaders have been used successfully on wheel loaders for many years, for example. Contractors and farmers in Holland appreciate the advantages of the hydraulic drive, as it is easier to combine the spreading and rolling of the unloaded fodder with a wheel loader. Due to the heavy weight of the large loaders, the compaction effect is well combined with the distribution process. The overview of the silo distributor from the cab of the wheel loader also speaks for itself: the drivers in Holland, for example, appreciate the good view of the distributor and can thus ensure even distribution throughout the entire bunker silo.
Wheel loaders are becoming increasingly popular in agriculture. Many farmers appreciate the advantages of a silage spreader with hydraulic drive and use the machines together with their wheel loader when ensiling.
Picture: Landbouwpowers
Since a wheel loader usually has articulated steering, it is extremely manoeuvrable in the silo. This means uncomplicated handling during forage harvesting and quick exit from the silo when the next loader wagon arrives.
Picture: Landbouwpowers
Requirements of a silage spreader for wheel loaders
In order to be able to use your silage spreader on a wheel loader, there are a few points to consider. In this section we will give you an overview of the technical requirements of the spreader and the wheel loader so that the combination can be used sensibly for silage making. Although every model in the SILO FOX range can of course be adapted to wheel loaders, the Silo Fox GIGANT model has established itself as the most popular machine for wheel and telescopic loaders. Based on this size SF 280 GIGANT, the following key technical data should be considered:
Requirements silage spreader | Requirements wheel loader |
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Hydraulic drive (oil motor) with freewheel | Minimum hydraulic output 120 l/min. |
Hydraulic hoses for oil motor drive (included with hydraulic drive) | Connection option for hydraulic hoses incl. matching couplings |
Leakage oil hose (unpressurised return flow) with hydraulic drive | Connection option for leakage oil hose (unpressurised return) on the wheel loader |
Adapter for wheel loader attachment (e.g. three-point on Volvo) | or: Provision of the adapter on the wheel loader side |
Direct wheel loader attachment instead of three-point attachment (alternative to adapter) | Specification of the exact wheel loader type for the creation of the individual attachment |
Shock valve - if the distributor is to be operated in both directions of rotation. (with this valve the oil motor is secured in both directions of rotation and thus protected). | - |
Various accessories as desired (e.g. hydraulic swivel device, lighting, etc.) | Various technical requirements for the respective accessories (e.g. 1 x double-acting control unit for swivel device, power connection for lighting, etc.) |
Practical tips for the purchase of a silage spreader
Are you considering whether you should make your silage work easier with a distributor – but are not quite sure which size and equipment is right for you? No problem, here are a few exclusive practical tips from MAMMUT that can help you with your decision.
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Drum width:
The silage spreader should be approximately as wide as the carrier vehicle. This ensures that you can drive the machine right up to the silo wall and that the grass is distributed to every corner of the silo.
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Diameter of the drum:
The diameter of the silage distributor should ideally match the height of the amount of fodder being unloaded. This means: The higher the piles to be distributed in the silo, the larger the silage spreader should be. Of course, the nature of the silo itself must also be taken into account here - in the case of narrow and long mobile silo systems, the unloading quantities are sometimes more difficult to manage than in the case of large and wide storage yards.
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Driveability of the silo:
Make sure that it is possible to drive over the silo with a tractor or wheel loader. If the silo is closed on three sides, only pushing the harvested fodder towards it is possible. Working with a silage spreader only succeeds properly if a passage through the bunker silo is guaranteed.
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Equipment:
We strongly recommend a hydraulic swivel device as an accessory. The pivot point close to the three-point linkage makes it easy to free the MAMMUT silage distributors from the silo wall and thus comfortable to work with during the distribution process. You should also consider whether a wide-angle PTO shaft on one side is required (e.g. on tractors with a high distance between the front PTO and the ground). Another useful tool is the ratchet clutch: the reinforced overload protection ensures low wear under heavy loads in inter-farm use. And last but not least - those who drive their silage spreader on the road should also think about a lighting system as an accessory.
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Silage spreader for wheel loaders:
You use a wheel loader for silage making? No problem for our SILO FOX silage spreaders! All models can be equipped with a hydraulic drive on request and are also available with adapters. Our MAMMUT team will be happy to advise you in detail.
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Do not underestimate harvest volumes:
A common mistake when making a purchase decision is choosing a silage spreader that is too small. For cost reasons, some customers opt for a smaller series, i.e. a smaller drum diameter of the silage spreader. Often the smaller models can handle the crop volumes, but many more passes are necessary and the time for compaction is then often too short. Therefore, it is important to correctly estimate the unloaded forage quantities and to adjust the silage distributor type correctly at the time of purchase.
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Front mounting without reduction gear:
If you want to convert a used silage spreader to front mounting, we advise you not to turn the gearbox only - i.e. to adjust the direction of rotation of the PTO shaft stub. Since tractors have a rotational speed of 1000 rpm at the front PTO, the drum of the silage spreader will rotate too fast if it is only designed for the rear of the tractor (540 rpm). It is much better to retrofit a reversing and reduction gearbox, which not only changes the direction of rotation but also reduces the speed of rotation.