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This article was #3 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2013. It was published in the March 1, 2013 Extra e-newsletter.
Click here for the full list of the Top 25.
Pumping systems are a popular way to move liquid on dairy farms. Nancy Puck of Puck Custom Enterprises Inc. provided an overview of pump capabilities by using the pump’s performance curve.
Dairies have effluent in many places. Manure pits, parlor water, effluent from settling basins and runoff are common sources.
There are several things to consider when selecting a pump. One of the first is finding a pump that will handle the pressure and head from the effluent lines. The higher the elevation is that the effluent has to be pumped, the higher the head pressure.
Our progressive panel is back this issue to discuss manure handling on their respective operations. These producers have previously discussed calf and heifer raising and A.I. and breeding in Progressive Dairyman. New to this issue’s panel is Eric Risser, representing Meadow Vista Farms. Eric oversees nutrient management on the 750-cow operation.
The choice of freestall base and bedding is a critical decision and should reflect management style and goals. Sand is the gold standard for a freestall base and bedding. Maintaining a bed of loose sand, six inches minimum in depth, enhances cow comfort, improves lying time, contributes to good udder health/ clean cows and improves cow footing.
This article was #16 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2013. It was published in the January 21, 2013 print issue. Click here for the full list of the Top 25.
Debunking the myth that sand bedding cannot be used on a farm with an anaerobic digester, we profiled the digester system (including sand separation equipment) at Central Sands Dairy. While the farm is keeping 99 percent of sand from the entering the digester, Adam Onan, a manager at the dairy, said one downside is getting the separated sand dry.
This article is a follow-up to the 2011 article, "Future of U.S. digester industry prime topic at AgSTAR Conference." Click here to read.
In 2011, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Renewable Energy Director Jerry Bingold said the U.S. dairy industry had launched a goal in 2009 to establish 1,300 anaerobic digesters in operation by 2020. This goal was intended to enable the industry to continue to improve sustainability and enhance manure management practices and revenue on farm.
There’s nothing stinky about a plan to turn manure into cash. It might be a dirty business, but the results can be a boon to dairymen around the globe. A group of scientists led by Aicardo Roa Espinosa, founder of Madison, Wisconsin-based Soil Net LLC, is working on a $9 million research study that uses polymer to separate manure.
Proper management of animal mortalities on livestock operations has important implications in nutrient management, herd and flock health, as well as the health of farm families and public health. For this reason it is imperative to be familiar with best management practices for dealing with dead animals.
Anaerobic digestion to turn waste into energy is a topic that continues to garner growing interest from the agricultural community – and rightfully so. The benefits of biogas systems are many and they span the environmental, societal and economic arenas.
The equipment demonstrations at the North American Manure Expo, Aug. 22, 2012, in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, featured 10 different solid manure spreaders. See each of them in action. Video by PD Editor Karen Lee.
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