Bedding Spreaders

A bedding spreader throws straw, shavings or other dry bedding evenly across a pen. It saves hours of fork work and, used properly, keeps stalls cleaner and animals more comfortable.

Key points

Pick a spreader by the bedding material, barn layout and tractor.
Wear a respirator and ventilate when spreading dusty bedding.
Keep people and animals out of the throw path.
Lock out the machine before clearing jams.
Clean dust from motors and check for loose parts.

What is a bedding spreader?

A bedding spreader takes bales or loose material and shreds, blows or throws it across a pen or stall. Some run off a tractor PTO, others have their own engine or motor, and some are self-propelled. Others sit on a skid steer or loader.

Common uses include dairy freestalls, calf barns, loose housing for beef cattle and large horse barns.

A farm with a calf barn and a few loose-housing pens might find a small self-propelled unit enough. A big dairy needs something that covers long alleys quickly. Describe your barn to a dealer, including alley width and ceiling height.

What types of bedding spreaders are there?

Blower-style units shred a bale and blow it to the target. Chopper-style machines chop the bedding as they throw. Smaller push or walk-behind models serve small barns. Truck or tractor-mounted models cover long alleys.

The right choice depends on the material, your barn layout and how many pens you bed.

Ask whether the machine can be switched between bedding types without extensive adjustment, since you may change material with the seasons or the price.

Blower style for distance and covering large areas.
Chopper style for straw that needs cutting.
Small units for hobby barns.
Loader-mounted units for pens a tractor can reach.

How do you pick one for your operation?

Size the machine to the bales you handle and the tractor you own. Check your operator's manual for the PTO speed, power and hitch needed. Make sure your loader can lift bales into the hopper.

Consider the bedding you use. Straw, shavings and other materials behave differently, and not every machine handles all of them. Ask the dealer or manufacturer what the machine was designed for.

Test the machine with your own bedding if you can. Wet or frozen bales behave differently, and a spreader that does well with dry straw may struggle with damp material.

What are the dust and health concerns?

Spreaders create dust, and dust can irritate lungs for people and animals. Wear a respirator suited to the dust, and ventilate the barn. Avoid spreading when animals are packed tight in a closed barn if you can, and talk to your vet about respiratory health.

Moldy bedding adds risk. Do not spread bales that smell musty or look dark inside.

Bedding that is too fine can become a respiratory problem on its own. Ask your veterinarian or extension specialist about the best material for your animals.

How do you operate it safely?

Keep people and animals clear of the throw path. Debris, a stone or a piece of wire in a bale can be thrown at speed. Check bales for twine, net wrap and foreign objects before loading.

Keep shields in place on the PTO and beaters. Shut down and lock out before clearing a jam or adjusting. Never reach into the hopper while anything is turning.

If the barn is closed up, open doors and run fans before you spread, and keep animals out of the area until the dust settles.

How do you maintain a bedding spreader?

Grease the bearings and joints as the manual lists, check belts and chains for wear, and look at the beater or flail for damage. Clean dust from motors and electrical parts, since fine dry material and heat can start a fire.

Store the machine dry. After heavy use, check the fasteners for loosening from vibration.

Keep a fire extinguisher in the barn, and do not park a hot engine in a pile of dusty bedding.

Is a bedding spreader worth it?

For a barn with a few stalls, a fork and a wheelbarrow still make sense. For a calf barn or freestall system that is bedded often, a spreader can pay back in time saved. A neighbor who shares or a custom service can be a good test before you buy.

Add up the hours you spend bedding by hand in a week and compare that with the cost and upkeep of a machine. If the answer is only an hour or two, a good fork and a wheelbarrow may still be the sensible tool.

When to get help: Ask your veterinarian about dust and respiratory health in your barn, and the dealer about machine fit and service. A licensed electrician can check wiring in dusty areas.

Sources and further reading

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