Farming Monthly National June 2016 | Page 29

| Livestock Bauer to showcase slurry management expertise at Livestock Event 2016 Slurry equipment specialist Bauer will showcase its classleading equipment for slurry management and the production of ‘green bedding’ for cow cubicles at the Livestock Event. auer’s range of submersible, shaft and pto-driven slurry pumps and mixers have deserved reputation for durability and reliability, especially amongst contractors racking up long hours on slurry and digestate field application. Recent additions to the range include the Turbomix MTXH tractor pto-driven slurry mixer, which is designed for use in slurry lagoons and below-floor slurry tanks to homogenise solids and liquids in readiness for field application by tanker or umbilical system. “Although a slurry mixer is a pretty simple device, a lot of thought has gone into making this new Bauer model one of the most effective and efficient on the market,” says Adrian Tindall, Bauer UK & Ireland sales manager. B www.farmingmonthly.co.uk “The special design of the blades, together with the unusual protection ring, makes a real difference to its performance.” Bauer slurry spreaders have some unique features, not least a tank hand-made from polyesterreinforced resin that is impervious to corrosion and a lot lighter than steel without sacrificing strength and durability. The 26cu m spreader, for example, is as much as 3 tonnes lighter than a steel tanker of equivalent size and specification, which together with large flotation tyres keeps the machine’s impact on the soil to a minimum. This material is also now being used for a new tank to fit the Claas Xerion 4000 Saddle Trac forward control tractor, turning it into a selfpropelled slurry and digestate applicator. The tank weighs 1800kg less than the steel unit available previously, yet with a capacity of 16cu m (16,000 litres), it holds an extra 2cu m (2000 litres) of liquid. With more ‘green bedding’ installations on farm than any other supplier, Bauer is the undisputed leader when it comes to experience and expertise in the production of cost-effective cubicle bedding from slurry. “The screw de-watering machines developed by Bauer subsidiary FAN Separator are purpose built for the job, not merely modified versions of standard screw separators,” emphasises Adrian Tindall. “For example, the FAN Green Bedding separator has a larger diameter screw tube so the flights are shallower to exert increased pressure, there are sharp-edged grooves to cut long lengths of straw and silage, and the auger floats within the heavy-duty screen to protect the bearings.” “It’s one thing to achieve the 3638% dry matter required over a short period but quite another to do so consistently at acceptable outputs, and to get an economical service life from the separator,” says Mr Tindall. Farmers using the separated fibres as bedding report increased cow lying times and fewer ailments such as hock abrasions thanks to the soft, comfortable characteristics of the material. June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 29