Computers Another Tool In Fine-Tuning Poultry House Operations ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Fanning Staff MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.) Poultry house computers won’t fix watering systems, replace tom belts, or care for sick chickens. But as a tool, they can be used successfully to make the minor, labor-saving adjustments to the house environment to provide a ‘ ‘better bottom line because of bet ter bird comfort,*’ according to David Graybill, broiler flock supervisor, Pennfield Corporation. Graybill spoke on Monday to about 30 poultry producers and industry representatives at the Penn State-sponsored Poultry Management and Health Seminar at Kreider’s Restaurant For the past five years, Pen nfield has been using computer ized house environmental controll ers in the company’s broiler opera tions. If installed and programmed correctly, according to Graybill, computers can be a vital resource in managing time and improving growout efficiency. Graybill asked those attending if they made use of a computer today. While many own and oper ate a computer of some sort, either a PC or a laptop, many indicated they hadn’t used one that day. Graybill showed them a digital watch, which makes use of compu ter technology. Automobiles and other equipment that contain elec tronic components make extensive use of computer “chips” just like the desktop PC. “I think we’ve all put our trust in computers,” he said. “We are inundated with computers, and we need to be aware of that We trust them. Why wouldn’t you trust them in die broiler house?" Graybill noted that certain farm industries, including poultry com panies. are reluctant to use compu ters because of the lack of know- " THERE’S MORE TO IT THAN JUST NPK” For over 47 years, farmers throughout the Mid-Atlantic Area from New York to Vitginia have produced millions of dollars of crops using Lebanon Extra fertilizer. Lebanon Extra is an ammoniated, homogenous, granular NPK fertilizer. 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Graybill examined the features on many of them that do a highly accurate job of fine-tuning factors such as temperature and humidity. Also, computers can be used to time fans, adjust lighting, and control curtains. “The dependability part of the computer is something that we can never overlook, because it’s there and is available 24 hours a day,” said Graybill Customizing the computer con trols is vital. The controllers must fit into the particulars of the operation. “The ‘customizing’ part is probably the one where we fall down the quickest, because it’s the human side of the computer,” he said. When using computers, the fol lowing guidelines are essential for optimum effectiveness: • Surge and lightning protec tion. Graybill indicated a service representative once told him that lightning causes most computer problems. “Lightning can knock computers out or severely hurt per formance,” said Graybill. Infor mation on housing type and how prone the building is to lightning strike is critical when installing the systems. Installing surge and light ning protection is critical. • Backup controls. When com puterized, the house environmen tal control system is centralized. If EXTRA Granulated Starter Fertilizer LEBANON EXTRA PLANT FOOD Ammoniated Granular Fertilizer Homogenous Secondary and Micros Uniform Analysis Low Chlorine for Sensitive Crops Safer to use in row applications Economical to use on all Crops Get the Starter Effect by staying 2x2 Excellent for No-till Com For more information on Lebanon Extra Fertilizers Lebanon Chemical Corporation Baltimore, MD 800-343-9085 something detrimental occurs and the computers ate down, make sure preparations are made to ensure the smooth operation of the facilities. • Hard wiring. Nearly five years ago, while first sys tems atPennfield, unybill discov ered that “we were doing our hard wiring in such a way that we locked two, and maybe three, fans into one output off of the compu ter.” GraybiU said, as a result, “if we wanted one of those fans to run, we had to unplug the other two. Any time you do that, you limit the efficiency of your system and you set yourself up for possible disas ter.” Each component should be wired so that there is a multitude of ways you can have the outputs go to components in the house and create the exact conditions you want at different sections of the house. Also, conduit wiring (all wires through a pipe) is generally more reliable than plastic-Covered wire, because poultry house fires often start after rodents chew on wires. • Maintenance. A reliable tech nician is needed to make sure that covers are installed on the elec tronic equipment “Spiders and their cobwebs can do a number” on electronic equipment accord ing to Graybill. Using a “common-sense” approach to maintenance and keeping units tightly closed is important Also, Pennf&ld recently upgraded all the batteries (which normally last S-7 years) in one system, and also updated the software on the com puter chip to ensure the efficient operation of the units. • Training. “Training is impor tant and probably one of the things that we fail to do the most often,” said Graybill. Personnel must be trained and adequately retrained on a regular basis “to get the most As a tool, computers can be used successfully to make minor, labor-saving adjustments to the house environment to provide a “better bottom line because of better bird com fort,” according to David Grayblll, broiler flock supervisor, Peimfleld Corporation, right. Grayblll discusses environ mental controllers with Richard Landis, layer and pullet ser viceman, Melhorn Sales Service and Trucking, Mount Joy. tools that are available to make the work more efficient However, they can’t do everything. “Ifind that growers are going to spend the amount of time in there that they have to spend, whether they have computerized controls or not,” he said. out of the computer system.” • Technical support. Support is necessary at the end of the phone line or die technician nearby when operational problems occur. Growers should realize that a computer is simply one of many FFA Presents Awards (Continued from Pago Ai) rset County, western region vice president; Marjorie Erway, Coudcrsport, north central region vice president; Mark Heeter. 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He presented a check for $63,117 compiled from businesses, chapters, and individu als across the state who offer finan cial support. Keynote speaker at the Tuesday evening session was Travis Hagen, national FFA secretary from Cali fornia. In a stirring message. Hagen challenged members to be effective in today’s society by making things happen, by giving 100 percent effort, and by learning from experiences. Members competed in numer ous judging, speaking, and skill events throughout the annual convention. • Streets • Farm Lanes • Parking Lots • Roads • Recreation Areas • Driveways - FREE ESTIMATES -
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