On a large 1200-head dairy enterprise in Victoria, manure isn’t a waste. It’s a resource waiting to be refined, thanks to a Remu screening attachment.
Across cattle and dairy farms around Australia, screening buckets made by Finnish manufacturer Remu are being used to process manure.
Mounted on loaders or excavators, the attachments use rotating screening blades that break down manure clods and separate material into different fractions in a single pass.
Fine composted material is pushed through the bucket rotors, producing a product suitable for paddock spreading, while oversized material such as bones and rocks is left behind for disposal. This separation improves the consistency of the manure, reduces the risk of spreading debris, and accelerates composting by loosening and aerating the material.
One person who needs no convincing is Adrian, who works for dairy farm sub-contractor Truck N Earth in regional Victoria. He said the Remu XO2150 bucket has helped streamline the process on a Gippsland farm where he was working.
The business ensures that manure processed at farms is returned to the same client’s paddocks, maintaining a closed-loop system designed to protect biosecurity and soil health.
“We always put it back onto the client’s paddock. We never really sell it,” Adrian said. “Because then you’re dealing with contamination from farm to farm… we try and keep everything on the farm that we’re working on.”
While nutrient value is clear, the challenge has been consistency: producing dry, clean, evenly spreadable manure without excessive handling.
The limits of the old system
Previously, composting relied on a 14-tonne excavator with standard buckets for turning, plus a shaker bucket for screening.
“A tractor and GPS-equipped muck spreader were used for spreading manure back on paddocks. It worked but it wasn’t efficient,” Adrian said.
“It was time-consuming. We’d have to go there two or three times, turning and screening through with the sifting bucket, and putting other stuff in it to try and break the bones down.”
Bones were a persistent issue, along with rocks and debris collected during laneway clean-ups.
“We can’t afford to go spreading debris on the paddocks,” Adrian said.
The goal was clear: dry, well-broken-down manure, screened-out bones and rocks, minimal contamination, and a product that flowed cleanly and evenly through the spreader.
The Remu XO2150 screening bucket
Adrian decided to give the XO2150 screening bucket a go. Supplied by Remu dealer BA Equipment Group, the attachment was mounted on the farm’s excavator, allowing screening and processing in a more streamlined operation and reducing re-handling. While still early in its use, expectations are high.
“I’d say the screening bucket is going to probably cut the time in half, at least,” Adrian said.
Previously, manure rows were revisited multiple times for turning and sifting. Now, the aim is to cut down on those repeat passes. This reduces labour, fuel use, and machine hours.
Adrian’s long-term target is to increase throughput.
“On high, we’re going to process 100 cubic metres an hour. That’s my end game. If I can get to that, then I’m a happy client,” he said. “Waste reduction is equally important. We’re going to have minimal waste product at the end of it.”
Less oversize material, fewer contaminants, and a more uniform end-product all contribute to smoother, even spreading and improved paddock presentation.
Focused on the end-product
The expected return on investment is two to three years, but payback wasn’t the primary driver.
“It’s more about presenting a good product for the client that I’m working for,” Adrian said. “It’s not so much what the bucket cost, I want the product at the end to be good.”
With higher throughput, reduced re-handling, and cleaner compost, Adrian’s operation is strengthening its manure management system, improving efficiency while maintaining strict biosecurity standards.
More information: www.remu.fi
