Dairy engineering meeting held By SALLY BAIR Feature Writer LANCASTER, Pa. - Proper ventilation in dairy barns could increase production and could decrease herd health problems, according to Gerald Bodman, Penn State Extension agricultural engineer. Bodman spoke to nearly 60 Lancaster County farmers at a meeting organized by N. Alan Bair, Lancaster Co. Extension agent. MEMO HAY, STRAW and EAR CORN SALE EVERY MONDAY AT 11 A.M. EVERY WEDNESDAY 12:00 NOON NEW HOLLAND SALES STABLES, INC. Phone 717-354-4341 Lloyd H Kreider Auct The PROVEN Fickes MASTER SALS SYSTEM ,q-£- Mastcr-Mxtic is the proven automatic silage handling system first introduced m the eastern United States by Fickes over a year ago There's no longer any need to enter the silo Once filled, the silo can be unloaded from top to bottom—automatically The Silo-Matic Continuous-door Unloader moves down the continuous doors to unload haylage, corn silage or high moisture com It operates effectively, efficiently and without mechanical problems Th» Flcktt-Uatitr-Utlic Silo System otters you: CONVENIENCE—Puts an snd to ths chors of climbing the silo every few days TIME-SAVING—Keeps you out of the silo so you can spend your time to more profitable advantage CLEAN ENTRY CHUTE—Continuous door chute used for unloading Second chute doors remain in place always clean TRAVELING BELT FAST. HIGH VOLUME FEEDER CATTLE FEEDING %/! . WITHOUT I - SEPARATION • Smooth Slip-Prool Fixed Speed Drive ' ~ I • Even Distnbution-No Feed Build-Up *' v, s. 1 M I B • Belt Glides on Plywood Trays *"%. • Sell-Tightening Sell-Cleaning Feed Belt i • Low Horsepower Requirements ' I • No Separation of Mixed Feeds • Optional Automatic Reversing Switch For Continuous Feeding Bodman said that “lack of proper air inlets is the biggest problem in Penn sylvania bam ventilation.’’ He added that very efficient air inlets can be installed at very low cost. He said often builders are reluctant to build the necessary air inlets because they want “nice tight bams to keep the wind out.” However, this reasoning can cause farmers some severe problems. Air ventilation, Bodman said, must take into account the quality of air, which means outside air must be introduced; the quantity of air, which includes the' proper size of fans; and the distribution of air, having fresh air throughout the structure without drafts. Temperature, moisture and relative humidity are all important in considering air quality, and if they are not in the proper relationship, mildew and condensation can be the result. Either, Bodmah said, means a farmer has a problem with ventilation. Using slides to illustrate, aucMianc cONnNuoue-aooa silo uhloadck TTii« eaduatve (inlander Jestffl h» been tn uac an c*M»iU)itt«Jii«( vl« (« marc dun a vor It hat been tbaraufhly tested Ml praved under farm aperatmf aaadittans with havlage •ara silage and hifh nwtature cam The Sila-MMtc Low moons Daar Sila I nlaadtr wtamaiirtUlv mave* dawn the silo (ram daor ta daar The yaaacaeck Mays in parted ■ligament with the chute daan and haad remains m ideal posrnan far mwitnum idapr uarrvmy effsoencr There are na rapes caWei ar pulleys tn adiua «ince the downward mavement at the unloader operates bv gras it> The elecwic cable t piaffed inta a power source at the tap of the silo The dectrx cable autamaticallv uncoils as Ihr unloader movn down the «da Bodman showed several alternatives for correct ventilation of barns. He emphasized the importance of getting fresh air to all parts of a building, and at tributed many winter calf problems to “dead air space” in bams. He said often calves are housed in the back part of the bam, and this is just the place where air circulation is non existent. When installing fans, Bodman said it is most ef ficient to install them in banks, and added, “The greater the length of the <m inlet, the smaller the openings required. And the smaller the opening, the less chance of draft.” He said that in a long bam, two banks of fans should be used. “You can not efficiently move air for more than a distance of 100 feet,” he said. Bodman also suggested that farmers insist on in stalling fans which are “certified ratings fans.” Fans are rated by the Air Moving and Conditioning Association, Inc., which is similar to electrical units uric z**~* *- Sm wn CTihi - "**♦"*—- g"wwfx • y >N **~-** , - **"* '■"' mmtt. ■*■*■*- - - -w---* „ P**- 1 4 'U^H i*- * “v One ChuN Thw phmafraph Oxwi UnAeatEni Chula-The vTotmumn (he da*i chute irfe of the Fain via dear aafumn dune ihawn here Thi» syatewt praetdet clean entry to the with aantmumn doar «n«rs in «ila m all tann. Daara are "refrigeratae dated patitwn far laadm* mI. he" Fdn SwnfMi hiafad daan CONTINUOUS DOOM- Die t-ickes t.»«niinui>us Ilnurs can he pl*.ni at elmwu ant liaataw Jevmt »0 (hr orsvmremvie < t the <k I het n» 'pevial whK «w spreaders The small di«<rs (* t wide t IS I *np) an, wedped tijrhtK apaimt a steel wmh The siti rs loaded « th doMT. in Please fill out and mail the coupon below. Fickes will mail complete information to you. Mam Mntf tm MMnlm mt MM aa Oka Now Plalna MAATCIMMTIC M.« ADOMCW (MCA COW) which are approved by the Underwriters Laboratory. Bodman also cautioned that controls for-fans should be located where they can sense average conditions in the building and they should be kept in a group for easy calibration. He said they need to be kept very clean for proper functioning. “After the third whitewash, they won’t work!” In a discussion of calf hutches, Bodman told dairymen that if they provide a wide range of conditions an animal will find a place which is good for its well-being and which is comfortable for it. The real question farmers have about calf hutches, Bodman said, is not what is comfortable for the animal, but whether it is too cold to go out and feed it. He said, “If you’re having calf problems, I would encourage you to try calf hutches. You the producer must provide a good environment if the animal is to survive.” Bodman also talked about manure management, saying that ventilation and ST*Tt FARMER STUDENT Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Jan. 29,1977 Ag Engineer Gerald Bodman makes a point at the blackboard as he discusses proper ventilation for farm buildings. the handling of wastes are related areas. He urged farmers to consider all the alternatives before choosing a manure handling system. He said it is important to consider both storage cost and equipment cost, saying there is not enough money in manure tojustify two sets of equipment. He pointed out that milking center effluent must be considered as part of the cost of the total system, so if a separate system must be added to handle milking wastes, the total cost can be quite high. He told fanners it is a challenge to them to find a system they can afford, one they can easily manage and one that doesn’t cause en vironmental problems. In discussing the various options available, Bodman pointed out that some require handling the manure more than once. He said further that safety factors should also be considered in the final selection. Basically, Bodman, said, “We’re ahead of the en vironmentalists, because we’re doing things because we want to and because of good management practices. LARRY SAYS - GOOD NEWS VJ TO COME FROM LANCASTER FORD "WATCH FOR THE P.S. A FRIENDLY TIP ... THESE DATES - FEB. 17 AND 18. Mil UNCASTER FORD mm TRACTOR, INC. KUSIUUUII Take Flory Mil Exit off 2t3 and to *" —■— N | '/• mile toward East Petersburg. The New Home of the Friendly People 1655 Rohrerstown Road Lancaster. Pa. Phone (717) 569-7063. Farmers are more con cerned about the en vironment than 90 per cent of the population. He discussed the clean streams law and its effect on farmers who are considering manure handling systems. He emphasized that daily hauling will not be outlawed under the present law, so farmers should not be pushed into buying a system they may not want or need. Fines for polluting, Bodman said, are now much stiffer than previously. Bodman pointed out that dairymen operating with less than 200 head of cows need not have a permit to install or operate manure handling equipment, except in a case by case designation under current federal regulations. This means that a dairyman who is doing a good job will not be required to get a permit, Bodman said. A manual has been compiled which spells out acceptable methods of manure handling, under state environmental regulations, it will be available in the spring. 15
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