Every week the back-breaking work consisted of using a pitch fork to break up "biscuits" from conventional large 4 x 3 square hay bales and spread the material throughout the shed.

With a grin on his face, Mal says the job now takes three hours, mainly sitting in a Merlo telehandler operating a Spread-a-Bale.

Obviously the job is done quicker and more efficiently and the straw also is fluffier.

For Narrogin machinery dealer Geoff Perkins, who has introduced the UK-manufactured Spread-a-Bale to the Australian market, it's a problem-solver for anybody shedding animals and in need of regular bedding straw.

The machine consists of a steel bin to hold the large square bale, fitted out with a reversible floor conveyor and two hydraulically-operated vertical spinners, each equipped with seven horizontal discs to which two flails are attached to each disc.

The Spread-a-Bale is quick-attached, preferably to a telehandler to gain maximum throw. Then the spinners are lifted up from the front of the unit to allow the operator to scoop a hay bale into the bin until it is caught by the conveyor and dragged in.

The spinners then return to working position as the conveyor is reversed, forcing the bale into the spinners.

The action immediately shreds the bale and produces a throw of material of around nine metres (30ft). By extending the telehandler boom, the distance can be increased to 13m (44ft).

According to one of the family farm principals, Dawson Bradford, who runs more than 5000 pigs, it is critical for pigs to have dry straw to sleep on.

"The other important aspect is that the straw cuts down the amount of ammonia in the shed," he said.

"Overall, fresh dry straw provides a better environment for the pigs and we provide fresh straw into the sheds twice a week.

"It doesn't take long for the pigs to spread the introduced straw around."

When the sheds are cleaned out, usually with a Bobcat, material is stacked and recycled by spreading it on paddocks.

"It does have some beneficial effects to crops and pastures though we haven't done any trials to quantify the benefits."

According to Dawson the Spread-a-Bale is a reliable unit.

"We've put through about 45,000 bales since we got it and there's just the usual wear and tear," he said.

Geoff says he intends to market the Spread-a-Bale throughout Australia.

"It is a bit of a niche market but I think farmers will have plenty of ideas on other uses for it to spread straw," he said.