MANURE

Question: What is the purpose of freestall bedding? Answer: To provide a cow a clean, dry resting surface. Especially, this means creating an environment where exposure of teat ends to attack from mastitis-causing pathogens is minimized.

While the process of anaerobically digesting organic wastes has long been present, its effective use is often not realized since the basics of its operation is not well understood.

Manure digesters will become more common on our dairy farms in the future, perhaps driven by odour control more than anything else. My observation is that some dairy farmers yearn for the time when they will be able to sell more electricity into the grid than they use, thus having an additional income stream.

With high levels of digestible calcium, protein and fibre, alfalfa is one of the most important and widely grown feed crops in Canada. Whether producing it for livestock or as a cash crop, it is important to maintain healthy plants and profitable yields.

A statement by former Michigan State University Extension educator Natalie Rector noting that “with rising nitrogen prices, manure nutrients are more valuable than ever” is as true today as it was when she said it five years ago.

Odour and air emissions are ever-present on dairy farms and continue to hold the attention of local, state and national regulation agencies.

Last year, Rick Stowell from University of Nebraska – Lincoln gave two presentations on the topic at the Midwest Manure Summit in Green Bay, Wisconsin.