You’ve seen what a kraal looks like the week after the first big summer storm. Winter and spring pack it deep, the rain turns that pack to slurry, the lanes go impassable and the nutrients wash off where nobody wants them. A kraal manure clean-out before the rains, with the right spreader plan, saves you that whole mess.
Why time the kraal manure clean-out before the rains
Dry pack loads easier, hauls lighter and spreads more evenly. Wet pack is heavy, sticky and hard on equipment. Get it out before the rains and the nutrients go into the soil ahead of planting, not down the drainage line.
Time the Kraal Manure Clean-Out Against the Forecast
Start with the calendar and the weather outlook:
- Figure out which pens and kraals carry the deepest pack.
- Work backwards from when the rain usually starts in your area.
- Allow for loader availability, labour and getting into the lands.
- Do the pens near drainage lines or water first.
Write it down with a target date for each pen. That’s how you avoid the usual scramble when the first storm is already building on the horizon.
Match the Spreader to the Muck
Not all manure behaves the same:
- Dry, compacted kraal pack with bedding and long material wants a spreader that can shred it and throw it.
- Semi-solid or wetter material needs a spreader that won’t bridge or plug.
- Fine, dry material will blow all over the place in a strong wind.
Side discharge spreaders are a common pick for compacted pack, because the discharge breaks up dense material and throws it to the side in a controlled band. Our side discharge manure spreaders are built for that kind of dense, mixed material.
Narrow Lanes, Tight Gates
A lot of kraals were laid out long before anybody pictured modern equipment going through them. Narrow lanes, tight gates and sharp turns limit what can get in. Measure access widths and turning space before you pick a machine, and plan a loading route that doesn’t have you reversing all day. Where access is tight, a compact spreader can make sense. Our piece on compact side discharge spreaders for tight kraal lanes goes into more depth.
Know Your Rate
Manure is fertiliser, and like any fertiliser it should go on at a known rate. Weigh a load, measure the area it covers and work out tonnes per hectare. Put that together with a manure analysis and a soil test, and you can set rates that replace bought fertiliser instead of burying one paddock and starving the next.
Look After the Water and the Neighbours
Keep spreading well away from rivers, dams, boreholes and drainage lines, and stick to any local buffer rules. Don’t spread right before forecast heavy rain. And think about wind direction near homesteads and roads. Nobody wants that phone call.
Pre-Rain Checklist
- Rank pens by pack depth and risk.
- Set clean-out dates ahead of the expected rain.
- Match spreader type to material and access.
- Calibrate tonnes per hectare.
- Keep buffers from water and neighbours.
Get the Equipment Ready First
Before clean-out starts, service the spreader and the loader. Check floor chains or conveyors, beaters or discharge paddles, bearings, gearboxes and tyres. Dense kraal pack is hard on drivelines, and a breakdown in the middle of your window can push the whole job into the rains. Keep spare shear bolts, chain links and common wear parts on hand.
Using a Contractor? Book Early.
If you rely on a contractor for loading or spreading, get on the list early. In a dry season ahead of the rains, everybody wants them at once, and late bookings may not get done in time. Put rates, application targets and areas to avoid in writing, and hand over a farm map showing buffer zones around water.
Write Down What Went Where
Keep a simple record of which paddocks got manure, roughly how many tonnes per hectare, and when. Over a few seasons that shows you how nutrients are spread across the farm, so you can send manure to the lands that need it most and stop piling it on the paddocks next to the kraals.
Final Truth
Manure sitting in the kraal is a cost. Manure on the land at the right rate is fertiliser. A clean-out plan that beats the rains protects your lanes, your animals and your soil. If your spreader isn’t matched to the pack you’re dealing with, talk to your local LEO dealer.
Frequently asked questions
How often should kraals be cleaned out?
That depends on stocking rate, bedding and climate. Many operations clean out at least once before the rainy season and again after. The key is avoiding deep, wet pack during the rains.
Can manure be stockpiled until after planting?
It can, but stockpiles lose nutrients through leaching and volatilisation, and they can pollute water if not managed. Cover stockpiles where possible and place them away from drainage lines.
How do I calibrate a spreader?
Weigh a full load on a weighbridge or estimate from known volume and density, spread it, measure the area covered and divide tonnes by hectares. Adjust ground speed or floor speed to hit your target rate.
Is manure enough to replace fertiliser?
Sometimes partly. A manure analysis and soil test show what nutrients it supplies. Most crops still need a balanced programme, but manure can cut bought fertiliser significantly when applied at known rates.
What size spreader do I need?
Match capacity to annual volume, distance to fields and the access you have. A bigger machine isn’t always faster if lanes and gates slow it down.
