A36—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, May 5,1984
Water
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
MYERSTOWN - Your dairy
herd is just not producing up to its
fullest potential, but you can’t put
your finger on the exact cause.
Bam and parlor facilities have
been updated to improve comfort
and sanitation.
Good bulls are being used in the
breeding program and the
pedigree of the string of foundation
brood cows indicates more milk
should be flowing into the tank.
The feeding ration has been fine
tuned and includes a special
package of vitamin supplements.
But still your rolling herd
average hovers around a certain
level, fluctuating up and down
slightly, but never really climbing
to where you think it should go.
And, besides you’re experiencing
some nagging occasional unex
plained health problems, par
ticularly in young stock.
More and more area dairy
farmers who find themselves in
this situation are beginning to take
a close look at their water as what
may be the final management
variable in their attempts to eke
out the most production efficiency
during these difficult economic
times.
At the forefront of those helping
daipr farmers take a closer look at
their water is Dennis Martin, of
Martin’s Water Conditioning
Systems, Myerstown.
“We’ve been in the water
treatment business for 11 years
and beginning about six years ago
started keying on farm water
supplies, particularly dairy
operations,” Martin explains.
“We take a close look at the
dairy water and particularly those
elements in it that could affect
herd health and production levels.
“After testing the water, we
assemble a conditioning system
that is sized for all of the water that
is used - not only for the milking
herd, but the dry cows, heifers and
calves, too.”
The four main elements that are
tested are the levels of nitrates,
sulfates, bacteria and pH of the
water.
“Our system is designed to not
just reduce the level of these
harmful elements, but almost wipe
them out entirely.” Martin said.
To date, Martin has worked with
more than 50 herds, ranging from
40 to 200 cows, located primarily in
Lebanon, Dauphin, Lancaster and
Berks counties. But as word of the
water conditioning has spread so
has the geographical distribution
of the on-farm programs.
Martin attributes the growing
interest in water purity to two
factors. First, dairymen are
examining every management
variable that can affect produc
tion. Second, testing has shown
that water supplies are becoming
worse every year.
For each of the four main
possible harmful elements, close
attention is paid to nitrate levels
over 10 milligrams per liter,
sulfates over 50 milligrams per
liter, bacteria levels at any
significant level and pH in excess
of 7.5.
One example of a dairy
operation that has installed a
complete conditioning system is
Ken-Nel Farms, of Ken and Nelson
Stoner, Lexington. The system was
installed in February, 1983.
“Testing the water showed
levels of 22 milligrams per liter for
nitrates and about 100 for
sulfates,” Ken Stoner said.
In addition to treating for these
two elements, the system has an
ultra-violet unit for bacteria and a
unit to bring the pH back up to
recommended levels following
treatment.
“Before the system, the cows
just weren’t eating what was
recommended for them,” Nelson
Stoner said. “I’d say they were
eating about 80 percent of what
(Turn to Page A3B)
- the final dai
Dennis Martin displays some of the water conditioning
units he’s installing on dairy farms.
OPEN HOUSE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9th
The Philadelphia Water Department Invites You To See Their
Program In Action At The J. Wood Farm, Lee’s Bridge Road,
Little Britain Twp. (Lane. Co.)
MACHINE DEMONSTRATIONS COFFEE & DONUTS
P.W.D. & AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE ON HAND TO TALK ABOUT:
1) The Use Of Sewage Sludge In Farming
2) PA DER & The Permit Process
3) The Value of Philadelphia Water Dept. Products To You
SITE
DIRECTIONS:
management variable?
10:00 AM - NOON
PA |
itioning system serves entire farm of Ken and
Nelson Stoner, including milking herd, replacements and dry
cows.
FOR
FURTHER
INFORMATION
Call P.W.D. at
215-492-4028