MANURE MANAGEMENT | at the dairy farm

Summary

This video script explains the essential processes on a farm for managing manure and water efficiently. It highlights the importance of properly handling manure to prevent environmental contamination, including the use of automatic cleaners to remove manure from barns and a separator to separate liquid from solids. The liquid manure is then used as fertilizer for crops, while the solid manure is dried and repurposed as bedding for cows. The farm also focuses on water recycling, using water from the milking parlor to clean walkways, ensuring both cow comfort and environmental care.

Takeaways

• 😀 Farmers need to manage manure carefully to prevent it from being misplaced.
• 😀 Automatic cleaners in barns help remove manure and move it to a collection tunnel.
• 😀 The liquid and solid parts of the manure are separated in a process known as the separator.
• 😀 The liquid manure is stored in lagoons and used to fertilize cornfields and grass fields.
• 😀 The separated solid manure is dried and used as bedding for cows in the barns.
• 😀 Heated manure is treated to kill bacteria before being used as bedding.
• 😀 The farm recycles water, collecting it from milking equipment to reduce waste.
• 😀 The recycled water is stored in a large tank for reuse in cleaning walkways.
• 😀 Recycled water is used to clean walkways cows use between barns.
• 😀 Farmers adopt these practices to maintain cleanliness on the farm and care for the cows and the environment.

Q & A

Why is it important for farmers to manage manure carefully?

Farmers need to manage manure carefully to ensure it doesn't end up in places it shouldn't be, protecting the environment and maintaining farm cleanliness.

What is the first step in manure management on the farm?

The first step is removing the manure from the barn using automatic cleaners that scrape it into a collection tunnel.

What happens after the manure is collected in the tunnel?

The manure is pumped over to a separator, where the liquid is separated from the solid parts.

How is the liquid portion of the manure used after separation?

The liquid portion is stored in a lagoon and is later used on cornfields and grass fields to help grow next year's crops.

What happens to the solid parts of the manure after separation?

The solid parts are dried and heated in a drum to kill bacteria, after which it is used as bedding for the cows in the barns.

Why is the solid manure product heated before being used as bedding?

Heating the solid manure kills any harmful bacteria, making it safe and hygienic to use as bedding for the cows.

How does the farm recycle water?

Water used in the milking parlor to clean equipment is collected and stored in a large tank, and then reused to clean the walkways for the cows.

How does recycling water benefit the farm?

Recycling water helps the farm reduce water usage, ensuring it is used efficiently and sustainably while maintaining cleanliness on the farm.

What is the purpose of keeping the farm clean?

Maintaining cleanliness on the farm is important for the cows' well-being and health, as well as for environmental care.

How does this process of manure and water management help the environment?

By managing manure properly and recycling water, the farm reduces waste, minimizes pollution, and contributes to a more sustainable farming practice.