Following the article in the FW dairy supplement, does anyone use one of those machines for spreading sawdust etc? Are they value for money, or is a barrow and shovel better value?

If you want a large Wheelbarrow try this link www.tettontrailers.co.uk. I have just bought a large trailer barrow for my Quad & it tips as well.

We've an AG Dispenser that goes on front of our Mustang skid-steer for spreading sawdust into cubicles. Works fine, even spread, speeds up a dusty, time consuming job and we've noticed a decrease in the amount of sawdust used. We tend to use it every 3-4 milkings and just brush some loose forward, when cleaning off the mats, other times. Only down-side is because of our open Mustang and Yorks-boarding, we're moving into the dust all the time it's spread and so we've to wear a (very fetching!) full face respirator! Tractor with cab recommended.

Just bought an AG here too to go on the front of our Matbro for spreading paper waste. Excellent machine, and when there was a problem the guy was in the yard at 7.30 am the next day (turned out to be the matbro not the machine!!) J B

Sounds a good machine JB, but will it mix concrete ;-)) David W.

PS Whats this waste paper stuff?, what is wrong with straw??? VBG David W.

Paper is 'free' (plus haulage) ... your straw is not (is it?) J B

we use a AG Dispenser to spread sand in the cubicles we have the ag 175s great machine saves time bedding up about 20 mins to spread sand in 150 cubicles use to be loose housed use to take 1 1/2 hrs per day to bed up now 20 mins every 10 days reconmend it to anyone .

Is this the paper sludge from the paper factory or old newsprint? How do the cows like it and are they clean?

It's the same paper that you buy from Envirobed (allegedly!) which they call semi-dry. I think it comes from Ellsmere Port. The cows seem ok with it and yes, they are clean. J B

JB Guess this paper give them somthing to read between milkings. Do they prefer the Telegraph or the Sun, what do they make of page 3s big yielders I wonder? david W.

What we really need is a cross between an Ag Dispencer and a wheel barrow as our cubicle shed is limited for space and the JCB won`t fit down. Buying a skid steer and dispencer just for sawdusting isn`t viable. I`ll have to make one of some discription.