C24—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 15,1980 The out-of-state visitors were welcomed by some of Beechdale Farms’ new born calves. Dr. Thomas Conrad talks to the group about his purebred Simmental operation. Greystone Manor Farms (Continued from Page C 22) yields roughly 24 silage per acre. In addition to raising com, the farm also raises 100 acres of alfalfa every year, primarily for haylage. Firestone noted they feed hay only when the cattle first arrive atthe farm Soft & Creamy - Full Of Coconut Rabbits - Pigs - Cats - Crosses - Eggs SEE The Easter Bunnies Home OUR Easter Flower Show ton Greystone Farms also feeds 500 head of hogs and keep 40 brood sows. They have a boarding business for about 50 horses at another farm, but they no longer raise Thoroughbreds, Firestone noted Beechdale Farms (Continued from Page C 22) semen from the best bulls available. His present herd consists of three-quarter blooded Sunmentals, purebreds, and full bloods. Conrad also told the group that Beechdale Farms does not show their cattle, but sells primarily for the commercial breeders. The visitors were able to tour the bull barn and take a look at the cow-calf herd. As a matter of fact, some of Conrads cows were grazing around the stone home’s lawn, unconcerned with the 160 people wandering about them. Beechdale Farms even gives a guarantee to its customers. It says, “As long ' as you are our customer, we will assist you in your breeding plans, feeding formulas, herd health, record keeping, per formance testing, marketing, and registering ffl&C * ? l2lh & Sprmg Sts QQQD m M enta/s Reading PA 19604 U / D'UUuD MANHEIM The visitors were in for a unique operation at the Forry farm. Here they saw a housing engineering set-up totally different from any previous stop on the trip. Under one roof, Forry fattens 850 steers each year. These steers are housed on top of an 8 foot deep manure pit, one area measuring 104 feet by 50 feet, and the other measuring 50 feet by 50 feet for two additional sections. The walls of the manure pit are ten inches thick, Forry added. He said he prefers the two smaller sections over the one large manure pit because he doesn’t have to set up his pump as often to agitate the manure. Before pumping out the manure, Forry said he adds 2000 gallons of water to the manure to help to liquify it. He pointed out that you can’t add the water too fast because it creates too many gases. your animals. If you are not satisfied, we will refund your money or furnish another animal of like kind. ” • * m> See Us First. WE'VE GOT WHAT YOU NEED 940 Cornwall Road AAPn mjNLIMITEO Lebanon PA 17042 £ f C'^DUO A closer look at Forry Farm One of the visitors asked Forry how he checks the gas level before he goes down into the pit. He said he had a steer fall through the slats one time, and smce the steer didn’t die, he said he figures it’s okay. The steers walk on top of slatted concrete floors wluch allow the manure and urine to drop down into the pit. The slatted floors are made up of poured sections with slats 5 inches wide with a 1% inch space between the slats. Forry said lus building was designed to give each steer 20 square feet of space, at maximum capacity of 500 head. The only problem he said he had with the design was the open peak of the roof that runs the length of the building. He told the visitors he once tried to put a section of roof over the space and found he had air circulation problems. So he removed his attempt to remodel the design, and puts up with the little bit of ram and snow that falls through the space. Forry pointed out that the older budding in the feedlot was constructed in 1973. In AcetMMJSg - q „ 17ni 720 N Prince St Lancaster PA 17603 UUU >, | /Ul this bam, they installed styrofoam on the inside of the roof. He pointed out that this side of the barn still “sweats”, so they eliminated this in the newer section built in 1975 The Manheim cattleman continued to dazzle his audience when he told them his feeding program put his 60,000 layers and 62,000 broilers to work in feeding his cattle Forry told them how he for This Area! We rent trucks of all sizes. from pick-ups and Econo lines to vans, stake body and dump trucks. So whenever you need a truck or any kind of equipment (Turn to Page C 26) We Worn like To Welcome Our New SEED CORN DEALERS DAVID A. BAUCHSPIES R D #l, Box 141 Bellefonte, PA 16823 814-355-3553 AND SLAB CABIN FARM (Sam Everhart) 2480 Gatesburg Rd State College, Pa 16801 814 234-2297 f
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