OPTIONS for slurry and muck spreading are spearheading Claas UK's plans to give its large, equal-wheel tractors, the Xerions, the edge over rubber-tracked rivals.

A new mounted Tebbe muck spreader body and fresh options for both mounted and trailed slurry tankers and injection systems, were demonstrated recently in Northumberland and proved the enormous work-rate when using such tackle by local contractor Stephen Metcalf, of AWSM Farms.

With weather constraints and regulatory blocks on being able to spread muck and slurry, it is becoming increasingly important to shift large amounts of the stuff in a short space of time. Claas UK's Alastair McCallum reckoned there is a gap in the market for Xerions suited and booted for such work.

By adding to the Xerion's portfolio of applications, he said this would make the financial investment in it more sensible. And, to make it more affordable, he said that Claas' research had shown that a significant number of Xerion owners did not use either the front linkage/pto or the rear pto, or both.

"That's why we're offering new flexibility which also makes it cheaper to own a Xerion. By fitting a more basic 40kph transmission, no front linkage, no pto and no air brakes, or even no rear linkage, potential customers could save around £15k over a full spec' 50kph machine," he argued. That meant a more basic Xerion 4000 Trac costs £250,810, though the range starts at £175,000.

"Many only use the front linkage, for instance, to add ballast. What we've done is make a mounted weight block on to which can weights can easily be dropped, using a telescopic handler. Weights of up to seven tonnes can be used and are inter-changeable for the rear or front to allow for ballast balance."

Another plus point for heavy applications is the Xerion's well-proven CVT transmission which is more economical than powershift or hydrostatic drives. "CVT gives owners more versatility and is quiet, and easy to use. And, with the Xerions comes reduced headland damage and the suitability for road work, compared to tracked machines," he added.

Claas already has an agreement with Dutch slurry handling specialist SGT for a range of option for slurry handling, including on-board tanks or trailed units, with a goose-necked option for trailed units as well as a more conventional hitch. Around 10 of these are already working in the UK, mainly fitted to either Xerion 3800 Saddle Tracs or Trac VCs.

A move to polythene tanks by SGT (which is now part of the Bauer Group) has made a weight saving of 1800kg with the on-board 16,000-litre tank option. This was seen with a new design of front-end autofill which has led to faster docking, better chopping and can fit to the Xerion without the need for a front linkage.

A longer loading arm means the unit can fill off road while the transport tankers remain on hard standing, which should reduce road mess. At the rear, either injectors or dribble bars of up to 39m can be fitted.

SGT also make trailed units of 21,000 litres with a single axle, 26,000 litre with two axles and a whopping 30,000-litre outfit with a triple axle - the multiple axles are available with steering mode.

Also on show was the new Tebbe-built mounted muck spreader [pictured] which is capable of handling up to 16 tonnes. A Xerion with this and loaded weighs 22 tonnes.

These have a fairly high loading height of 4m and the base of the spreader has reversible twin conveyors taking the muck back to the spreader unit at the rear, where two horizontal 650mm beater rotors, driven by a duplex chain chop the muck before dropping it on to two 1m-wide spreading discs.

• Watch below to see a fly round of Claas' latest products, including the mounted Tebbe muck-spreader on a Xerion and the new Claas Axion 870 tractor. Also on show is a Xerion 5000 tractor of 530hp pulling a Lemken Rubin 12 compact disc harrow. The video was taken using a drone by aerialcopters.co.uk, which is a business in Northumberland that specialises in agricultural drone photography. Contact tel: 07985 559775.