There's no need for expensive pumps and agitators with this "self-loading" liquid manure spreader designed for lagoons, says Big-Foot, Inc., Union Mills, Ind.

The "Captain" is an agitator and spreader built into one unit. It's equipped with an 18-in. dia. pto-driven propeller on back that agitates and loads manure at the same time and is also used to spread. You actually back the spreader down into the pit until the propeller is completely under manure, then open a hydraulically-controlled gate on back and start the propeller. Once the tank is full you close the gate. To spread manure, you simply open the gate and start the propeller up again. It turns in the same direction whether loading or spreading.

"It fits in with the growing trend of using lagoons instead of above-ground manure storage or pits under barns," says E. Paul Johnson, sales manager. "This unique spreader has been marketed since 1967 primarily to large dairy farms on the West Coast. Conventional vacuum spreaders designed for underground pits don't work as well in lagoons because they plug up with leaves, sticks, and other debris.

"The propeller on this spreader breaks up solids and draws manure into the tank at the same time. An overflow pipe on the side of the spreader lets you know when the tank is full. The propeller shaft runs along the bottom of the tank and has flighting spaced along it at intervals to help push manure back against the propeller when unloading. Spreading thickness is regulated by how far the gate is opened and by ground speed. It spreads manure over a 50-ft. swath so you can apply a very thin layer without damaging hay crops.

"The spreader requires a ramp into the lagoon that drops 1 ft. for every 6 ft. of length, allowing the pto shaft to stay out of the manure. The ramp should be at least 20 ft. wide and 48 ft. long and should be grooved for improved traction.

"The spreader tank has a hydraulically-controlled door on top so that you can also load it with a pump."