MANURE

Manure spills are rarely a planned occurrence. Therefore, it is important to plan your emergency response methods in advance. Progressive Dairyman Editor Karen Lee reached out to three environmental experts to learn what dairy producers, farm employees and other manure handlers should be prepared to do in the event of a manure spill.

Over the last several years working as an environmental consultant on dairies, I have heard one question from my clients over and over again: How do we remove solids from our synthetically lined lagoons? Unfortunately, I have learned that removing manure solids once they have accumulated in a lagoon is easier said than done.

When it comes to beach towels, long fibres are ideal for comfort and moisture absorption. The same goes for fibre bedding. Long fibres help absorb moisture and reduce bacteria growth.

Some dairy farms in British Columbia produce more manure phosphorus than is required by their crops, resulting in the gradual buildup of surplus phosphorus in their soils.

An ideal bedding for dairy cows is clean, provides a certain degree of cow comfort and doesn’t readily support bacterial growth. Sand fits that bill to a tee. Sand-laden manure, however, is the less attractive side of the deal.

Designing a robotic milking barn, whether it’s a new build or a retrofit, involves a lot of moving parts and pieces, with many experts involved along the way. However, it’s important for a manure-handling expert to have a seat at the table from the very beginning.