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Layout |
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System |
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Manure
is scraped daily from the cement holding, feeding and free stall
areas and placed in a picket-dam, which allows the waste water
to drain into the lagoon while holding back the solids.
Solids are spread once or twice a week with
a side-opening spreader calibrated to control the amount per acre.
"Unlike the old chain-driven spreaders that put out excessive
amounts of manure in big clumps, this one spreads it as a fine
mist that can be adjusted," says Tom. "If it turns a
freshly grazed paddock black, that's too much. You want to be
able to tell you have been there, but that's all."
Priority goes to newly planted fields and freshly grazed fields to stimulate growth. Cows are kept off from 5 to 25 days depending on when the paddock is ready to graze.
The waste water in the lagoon is blended with
well water for fertilization and irrigation through underground
pipes and irrigation system.