adequate air exchange during very cold weather.
Temperature is relatively easy to measure and monitor,
but it isn’t the best indicator of air quality. Other instru
ments are needed to more accurately measure air quality.
Relative humidity can be measured with a hygrometer or
psychrometer. Gas concentrations are measured using a de
tector tubes and a hand pump. The equipment required to
measure dust levels is expensive, which makes is impractical
to. Dust levels are difficult to measure, and the necessary
equipment is expensive, therefore common sense comes in
handy.
A ventilation system should provide good air quality and
comfort during all seasons. Therefore, the system design
and installation must allow the components to adjust and
provide relatively consistent conditions and air quality for
the animals.
Tunnel ventilation systems, for example, are excellent
warm weather systems since they provide a rapid air ex
change and breete down the length of the building. How-
John T. Tyson, Agricultural Engineer, Mifflin Co.
As cow numbed and production increase so does the need
for increased quantity, quality, and variety of feed stuffs.
Also, the methods for storing and handling feed may
change. Many animals previously housed in tie stalls and
fed by hand are now in freestalls and fed with a mobile TMR
mixer.
This new system must be capable of handling large quan
tities of feed very quickly and very efficiently, both into and
out of storage. More materials will be handled in bulk to
save money and improve efficiency. This new system will
also consume a large area. Often the area of the feed center
equals that of the freestalls and parlor.
A dairy operation can grow into a well-planned feed
center. The whole center must be laid out to match the final
goal of where the dairy is heading. As cow numbers are in
creased, the feed center can be expanded as planned.
The goal at the end of expansion is to allow one person to
conveniently feed the various groups of animals no matter
where they are located on the farmstead.
At times during expansion, feed storage may be spread
out and feeding may be less efficient, but remember that the
extra time spent during one or two years of expansion is part
of the cost of an efficient system which will be used for the
life of the new dairy.
Incremental Expansion
Lay out the total system and then construct the pieces as
they are needed. Complete system (operational) planning is
the best approach.
System planning needs to consider cow housing, feed
storage and delivery, parlor location, manure removal, pos
sible manure storage, machine storage, and future expan
sion . Consider travel routes for vehicles bringing in or
Feed System Expansion
taking away feed. Provide for flexibility, farmsteads aren’t
and probably never will be static.
The most important part of expansion is planning. How
ever, remember that a puzzle was a whole picture first, and
then someone cut it up to make a puzzle. Therefore, if the
picture wasn’t right to begin with or a piece is missing, the
puzzle will never fit together.
Planning a Feeding Center
When designing a feed center and feeding system, think
FEEDS: Flexibility, Economy, Ease of operation, Dependa
bility, and Safety.
Flexibility; A good system will allow easy changes in
feeding practices or rations. Avoid getting locked into a
system which allows only one feeding practice. Plan for ex
pansion. An ideal system provides for alternative methods
to keep feeding even though a plan or component is out of
service. f
Economy: The lowest cost combination of components
with effective performance and minimal wastage.
Ease of operation: The steps and machinery required to
feed should be convenient and straightforward. A feeding
system can be evaluated by asking, “How easy is it for me to
explain to someone else how to feed my cows?”
Dependability: As mechanization increases so does the
potential for breakdown and the cost to repair. Simplicity is
a key consideration in any system development project.
Safety: A well-designed system will keep hazards and
risks to a minimum. Work injuries result in loss of produc
tivity, emotional trauma, and various unplanned costs.
A good feed center and feeding system are important
parts of a successful dairy. High quality feed must be stored,
mixed, and delivered each and every day. Investing time
and resources in the design of an efficient feeding system
will help ensure a profitable dairy farm.
ever, the exchange rate is much too -high for cold weather
and the “breeze” can become a “draft”. Even if the ex
change rate and inlet opening are reduced, the air quality
between one end of the building and the other can be signifi
cant.
A primary objective of a ventilation system is to provide
good air quality to the occupants of a livestock shelter.
Keeping moisture, gas concentrations and pollutant levels
within acceptable ranges is the responsibility of the pro
ducer.
The ventilation system should be carefully selected and
managed to meet the needs of the animals during all sea
sons. In addition, air quality should be regularly monitored,
and necessary adjustments made to insure the animals have
clean fresh air available at all times.
Penn State Cooperative Extension has a number of Fact
Sheets available related to the design, evaluation and man
agemenLqf livestock housing ventilation systems. Contact
your IimHPSCE county office for copies.