A32-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 7, 2003 Dairy Center Construction Under GAY BROWNLEE Virginia Correspondent BLACKSBURG, Va. A new dairy center featuring water-recy cling and odor control at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University will be a showcase of 21st century dairy science tech nology. The air will be fresh and clean for some 26,000 undergraduate students next year on the beauti ful Virginia Tech campus when the $4.5 million project is up and running. According to Dr. Steve Nicker son, head of the Virginia Tech Dairy Science Department, the fulfillment of this dream after eight years of planning is owing to the support of the Virginia State Dairymen’s Association (VSDA), the Virginia Farm Bu reau, the Virginia Agribusiness Council, and Sen. John Chiches ter. An additional $l.l million was granted by the state for an office building, three bunker silos, hay storage barn, commodity storage bam, feed storage mixing area, and other renovations. The Dairy Center is set to open in January of 2004. Charles “Chuck” Miller, the dairy center superintendent, de scribed the new bam as a “com plete flush bam,” employing the latest water-use technology. At one end of the bam, two 22,000-gallon recycle flush tanks similar to silos will flush the barn’s six manure alleys three times a day. The flushing system will take advantage of pressure both from the height and volume of 12-inch water lines. From the reception pit, enroute to becoming odor-free, the ma nure will go through stages of separating water from solids. First, a me chanical separation sends the solid mass into a dry manure stacking facility. Set tling basins are fol lowed by aeration-sep aration and odor reduction in three con crete tanks. It’s really a five-stage separation process, according to Miller. The gray water will be pumped back to the tall tanks and also into 5,400 feet of irrigation lines that serve the fields. Miller said the 336-foot long freestall barn is designed to ac commodate 232 stalls. It also features a spe cial-needs research area, a holding pen, and a double-eight, rapid-exit herringbone milking parlor Each side of the parlor will have a 1,000-gallon capacity water-filled tank. This water will cool the milk and ensure com pliance with the Pas teurized Milk Ordi nance (PMO) that the milking parlor is flushed with clean water. “We have in this fa cility the ability to (monitor) individual feed intake for 48 cows," said Miller, adding that although the cows will be in loose housing, a com puter transponder on each will guide her to ner own door. Students will be able to conduct research in nutrition, endocrinolo gy reproduction, man agement. and genetics in the new center. “We’ve got to figure >ut how to get as those udders as we can.” said Dr, Nickerson. In addition to dairy science, opportunities for research in bio logical engineering, crop and soil environmental sciences, entomol ogy and plant pathology, physiol ogy and weed service, will be ex panded in the new Dairy Center. “This herd also serves the col lege of veterinary medicine,” said Miller. He indicated the dairy center will impact the nearby Maryland/Virginia Regional Col lege of Veterinary Medicine’s on going research, projects. For ex ample, these studies would involve topics such as mastitis, reproduction, and de-worming heifers. The veterinary students working with the dairy herd will develop skills in learning about the diagnosis of sick animals, pregnancy palpation, and hoof trimming. The Calan door system, used in Virginia Tech’s heifer barn is praised by dairy science officials for its efficiency in providing feed intake information on each animal trained to eat only at its own door. The new dairy barn will feature the Calan Door System as well. ALUMINUM GRAIN BODIES & ALUMINUM REPAIRS by < / e rtAmOkifk ■ ; These ultra-light bodies are designed for strength through engineering, not strength with bulk. For example, a 16' grain body with tailgate and 48" sides ihs only 1490 lbs, complete. We'll build you any wei length or any side height up to 60". Also available: • Double swinging hay hauling tailgate • Bam door type tailgate • Slide out cattle chutes HEWEY WELDING 1045 Wampler Rd. Lebanon, PA 17042 (717)867-5222 The enhanced research, according to Nickerson, will ulti mately be communicated to the world as research information is evaluated and disseminated through the extension service and the dairy science department’s three arms: its two-year program in animal production; four-year bachelor’s degree program, and the advanced degree programs. The two-year program has an enrollment of 30-35 students with 55-60 undergraduates pursuing bachelor’s degrees. The predecessor of the new barn was a stanchion model equipped with a pipeline milking system. After being built in 1956, this bam supported the nutrition trials and research of the dairy science department for 44 years. Harold Nester will serve as the Dairy Center’s herd manager. About a dozen employees will work a full time schedule, and a • Diamond flooring • Pull out panel tailgates • Any size grain chute Way At Virginia Tech The construction team is at work on the 14,000-gallon manure reception pit, located at the end of the future freestall barn. Tall water tanks will assist the flushing process through six alleys in the 336-foot barn that will be built on a 2-percent slope. work-study program will assist students seeking part time work. Graduate students, undergradu ate students, and professors will converge to tackle the necessary work. Three vital issues of the project are those of eliminating runoff, preserving nutrients for the fields, and controlling odor. Com for silage and high mois ture com is grown on about 200 acres. Barley on 60 acres is har vested as grain and straw. Alfalfa/orchardgrass is harvested as haylage on 75 acres. Orchard grass on 170 acres is harvested as hay and used as pasture land.. Two companies involved in the Lancaster If^r s T ssa r 0, Poured { Walls • Agriculture I • Commercial •Residential LJ- — J Call for Prices On: • NRCS approved Manure Storage Pits • Concrete • Basements • Retaining Walls Pumping • Footers • Foundation Walls Customer Satisfaction Is Our Goal Lancaster Poured Walls, Inc. 2542 Horseshoe Rd.» Lancaster, PA 17601 (717) 656-7370 « Fax (717) 656-7350 BIG RIG SEMI-TRUCKS - THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY! 4* 4k • PCTfRBiUTS m rn m KIffWORTM ...AND MANY MORE! :S n Adults $lO.OO Children 5-12 $5.00 Children Under 5 • FREE BUCK www.buckmotorsports.com MOTORSPORTS PARK 10 miles S. of Lancaster on Rt. 272 project are located in Chambers burg, Pa. Integrity Waste Man agement Systems designed the waste system and SoUenberger Silos has contracted to construct the tanks and the concrete stor age pits. Nickerson said the manure separator, the pulse jet irrigation pump and the pulse jet irrigator will be installed by the Integrity company. Dairymen Specialty Co. Inc. of Harrisonburg, Va. is supplying Germania equipment for the milking parlor. The existing milking cow fa cilities will be remodeled as a fa cility for fresh cows, dry cows, and spring cows, the men said. Plus - DIESEL PICK-UPS PULLING! This Event Sponsuped By CEN»PE»CO Oil Co. (Bring Your Dad For “Father's Day”) GATES OPEN AT 5:00 EVENT STARTS AT 7:00 SHARP For More Info Call The Office At (717) 859-4244 or track at 1-800-344-7855
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers