Abstract: A device for separating manure into wet and dry phases is disclosed herein. The manure separator includes a cylindrical strainer portion, a jacket disposed around the strainer portion to collect the wet phase, and a rotatable screw conveyor disposed within the strainer portion. The rotatable screw conveyor includes a shaft, and first and second screw thread sections disposed on the shaft and spaced from one another to include a longitudinal, annular zone that is free of obstruction around the entire circumference of the shaft. The longitudinal, annular zone causes a plug of relatively dry manure to form therein, the forming of which exerts back pressure on upstream portions of manure adjacent the first screw thread section enhancing the separation. The second screw thread section removes downstream portions of the plug for discharge of the dry phase from the device.