Reck from Germany has been manufacturing PTO-driven front- and rear-mounted silage spreaders for over 15 years and has more recently developed a hydraulically driven spreader for telehandlers.

There are four models available in the PTO range, but the most suitable for Irish conditions is the Jumbo II model. This has a working width of 2.85m with the option of 3m maximum.

The spreader rotor diameter is 1.28m and has an arrangement of weld-on flights inclined to an angle of 18 degrees to forward direction.

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The rotor travels at approximately 90rpm, with an average forward travel speed of 2-5km/h. The power requirement for this machine is 150hp, with a tractor weight of 6t. The rotor can be inclined to an angle of 20 degrees left and right, enabling the operator to bank up the walls and then safely roll it.

The PTO is shear-bolt protected, driving a reversible gearbox for front or rear drive, the central T piece gearbox drives the rotors via a 80mm hex shaft.

These gearboxes are very robust and are maintenance-free apart from oil changing every 500 hours. According to German manufacturer Reck, there are many advantages to using the silage spreader. Firstly, grass compaction can be achieved from the ground up, thus eliminating air pockets that can cause harmful silage fungi and rot.

This fast and firm grass compaction can allow silage trailers and silage wagons to safely unload directly on the pit and drive out empty and reduces the time that would normally be spent lifting the grass from the ramp and transporting it to the other end of the pit.

It will also give a fuel saving on the pit, of approximately 40%, compared with a telehandler and buck-rake, and also allows more grass to be squeezed into the pit, meaning less final rolling.

Reck believes the most important advantage of this machine is its positive contribution to the quality of the silage in the pit.

When air pockets are eliminated and compaction guaranteed, then this machine is a straight winner for anyone serious about achieving quality silage.

Two trial machines in Ireland have ensiled approximately 60,000t and 25,000t of silage respectively and are still in operation along with a number of other machines that have been sold to farmers and contractors.

To read the full Grass and Muck Magazine click here.