UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) A freestall dairy bam is a housing unit that provides for the resting, eating, exercising and drinking needs of a producing dairy cow, dry cow. or heifer. There are many questions that must be answered when designing, building, or operating a freestall dairy bam. What’s a good freestall? A good freestall or cubicle provides comfort, promotes cleanliness, and pre vents injuries to dairy cattle. It should provide enough room for the largest cow in the herd to enter freely, lie down, rest comfortably, and rise easily. A good freestall base will be dry, soft, and conforming. A properly designed and managed freestall will pass the three knee tests. • First, can you drop hard to one knee without major discomfort? Since a cow free-falls the last 12 inches or so as she reclines, imagine how her knees must feel if the base is too hard. • Second, how long can you comfortably support y oar weight cn one kr.ee? Do the base and bedding materials conform to support your entire knee cap, spreading out the weight, or is the surface hard and nonconforming? • Third, when you get up after these tests, is your knee clean and dry or wet and stained? For ne»*' freestalls a length of eight feet and a width of four feet National Milk Production Figures California held onto its number one ranking as the top milk producing state in 1995 even though milk production increased only 0.3% from 1994. Adverse weather conditions and high feed costs kept production well below the 10.1 % growth experienced in 1994. Wisconsin, which lost its title to California in 1993, has remained in second place. New York finished third, although each year number four Pennsylvania moves in closer. Total US milk production for 1995 rose 1.3% (nearly 2.0 billion lbs). Milk production in the top ten milk producing states, as a whole, grew 1.8% (about 1.9 billion lbs). The table shows the top ten states' milk production changes from 1993 - 1995. r 'V":. w —* • - r' tulates the Dafay of Distinction Award Winners X t V < ,7 for Dairy, Hogs, Poultry or Livestock Let our experienced ——— installation crew , aw. install “Tunnel Ventilation” \£sy/ or “Cooling System” — f or you. > HOUSING Calf-Tel™ Deluxe RH &LH Access Mj Our Deluxe model features a new, extra tall offset entry door opposite a right or left side feed access floor Lets you group hutches side-by-side for easy feeding and service Comes with two large pails, inside pail holder and eyebolts for lifting Rainproof ndge-top V ventilators keeps calves dry and comfortable We Cany A Full Line Of RepU Hours: Mon-Fri 7 to 5:30 Poultry. Hog and Cattle Needs... Sat 7j3© to Noon “ Farmer Boy Ag Systems ~ Inc. ces 410 East Lincoln Avenue, Myerstown, PA 17067 (2£) 7/27 717-866-7565 • 1-800-845-3374 we ship ups > Here’s How To Plan Dairy Freestall Barns icement Parts foi Dairy of Distinction Supplement A Division of <@> FANS :conomical line of iized fans available to fit ■eed or application. All tusmgs are factored out of "Prime" wies galvanized steel mg life and sturdy action MS £££ • Fast & Easy to use BLOODLESS * „ ery u ? e . S . tr ® ss rACTDATftD ’ Prevents Infection CAbTRATOH . can castrate later for Manual or Electric greater gain I will provide adequate space for the cow to recline and rise comfortably. Shor ter stalls require special provisions to give the cow room to lunge forward as she rises or reclines. What’s the best freestall bam layout, two row or three row? A good freestall bam layout provides convenient cow movement and access to the feed area, water, freestalls, milking center, and, if available, exercise lot orpasture. Coordinate freestalls, feed space, and watering locations to provide adequate room and reasonable travel distances for cows. Bam layout also affects manure removal patterns, feed distribution, and ventilation. The best layouts place either two rows or three rows of freestalls and a feed line along two parallel travel alleys. If two rows of stalls are placed along a feed line there will be two feet of feed space along the bunk for each freestall. If three rows are used, only about 16 inches of feeding space will be available for each stall. A good layout also provides at least two watering locations in each group and two travel paths between feeding and resting areas. For complete answers on freestalls, refer to Guidelines for Planning Dairy Cattle Freestalls. Information is also available from the Dairy Practices Coun cil and the Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service. Top Ten Milk Producing States, 1993-1995 1995 Xbarcafrom Rank State 199 G 1994 1995 19934* 199*45 California 22,927 25,242 25,327 Wisconsin 22,844 22,412 22,942 New York 11,415 11,400 11,643 Pennsylvania 10,181 10,230 10,600 Minnesota 9,693 9,342 9,442 Texas 5,910 6,225 6,113 Michigan 5.435 5,545 5,565 Washington 4,980 5,203 5,302 Ohio 4,620 4,515 4.600 Idaho 3,229 3,754 4,210 Total Top Ten 101,234 103,868 105,744 Total US 150,582 153.664 155,644 Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistical Service uc«m I \ \WWN> ,6 1' ' Controller •Simple and automate control on water flow •Ideal control for livestock 4 poultry cooling systems •Line fitter and .M protective check value included * jKmtJ UCM4S OrtfM CmMar yOU) mrtpkMm • Fogging Systems tor Poultry, Hog & Dairy Housing Evaporating Cooling Systems Lancaster •arml 10.1 0.3 (1.9) 2.4 (0.1) 2.1 0.5 3.6 (3.6) 1.1 5.3 (1.8; 2.0 0.4 4.5 1.9 (2.3) 1.9 16.3 12.1 2.6 1.8 2.0 1.3 Dairy of mm Distinction FEEDING FEED BINS { We assemble, deliver and set up bins on ~ I your farm ’ | •Weather tight die- f. f formed roof t'♦ | •Stronger engineered * \ i sidewalls gjjiMi | •Ground controlled fill HuSSI 1 •Galvanized roll formed legs IBniflKrj •Engineered leg braced systems •Fast flowing hopper bottom • Flcx-flo™ AUGER SYSTEM in 21/4” dia. to 5” dia.
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