19 minute read
Industry tackles ambitious ammonia targets
The Xaletto straw bedding system o ers a number of unique features.
Pollo-M air cleaner pumps and controls.
As farmers face growing pressure from consumers and policymakers to cut carbon and ammonia emissions, speakers at this year’s Pig & Poultry Forums took a closer look at the role of air scrubbers and introduced the Xaletto straw bedding system from Big Dutchman.
Beef and dairy have been shown to have the highest ammonia emissions in the livestock sector, but all sectors have a part to play in making reductions, according to Philippa Mans eld, agriculture lead for the CSF partnership. The government has pledged to reduce ammonia emissions by 16 per cent by 2030, and with agriculture accounting for 88 per cent of emissions, it’s clear that farmers will play a key role in this.
Research shows key on-farm drivers are housing (accounting for 27 per cent); manure application (25 per cent), fertiliser application (18 per cent) and manure storage (8 per cent).
Air scrubbing – the ROI
Inno+ business development manager Simon Lague, explained that while air scrubbing is often seen as an unnecessary and inconvenient cost, it can o er potential return on investment by recovering energy and improving animal productivity.
Inno+, which is part of Big Dutchman, uses a plate exchanger to transfer thermal energy from waste water, which then conditions incoming air. This is particularly interesting in sow production, Mr Lague said, where energy from sow housing can be used to warm piglets in winter.
A frequently asked question, he added, is how much waste water is produced. Using an example of a 1,000 nisher pig unit, biological systems require 915m3 fresh water per year and produce 515m3 waste water – while chemical systems require 646m3 and produce 64m3 waste. The by-product from biological systems is ammonium nitrate, pH7, with a nitrogen content of 2.8kg/m3, while for chemical it’s ammonium sulphate, pH 3-4, with a nitrogen content of 36.8kg/m3. If spread as organic fertiliser, chemical waste water will need to be treated with lime rst, or treated by a waste water management company.
On a typical 400-sow farm in the Netherlands, the cost of the system came to around €116,535, Mr Lague said, including the air scrubber, heat pump and costs, while the annual saving per year was estimated by the farmer to be £30,445, factoring in saved energy costs and production bene ts from increased feed e ciency and reduced mortality. This gives the system a return on investment of 3.83 years, though Mr Lague said the average is 4.5–5 years. Future systems will be integrated with pre-conditioning and dry cooling to further increase ROI, he added.
Use of data is also important, Mr Lague stressed, and most modern systems will have the ability to connect to the computer onsite or preferably via the cloud so reports can be created and shared.
Straw bedding system o ers unique features
Daniel Holling, director global support for Big Dutchman, introduced the company’s new straw bedding system, Xaletto, which o ers a number of unique features. In use 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there is no need for a slatted area and it has the natural feel of a forest oor, comfortable for feet and joints, and allowing animals to forage – as well as providing a smart and attractive playing material, Mr Holling said.
In addition, the system o ers continuous and 100 per cent evaporation of liquids (i.e. water and urine) added to bedding. Data shows that for a 6kg piglet, outputs of manure/dung are signi cantly reduced from 103kg for conventional systems, and 25kg for the Xaletto.
Mr Holling said Xaletto is the only housing system that is available for use in closed houses, and it does not require deep straw. In fact, for 10kg of feed, only 1kg of straw is needed, compared to the average of 4kg straw. Investment in the system is slightly lower than conventional systems and running costs are competitive, according to analysis using a typical 2,000-head nisher farm. If required, OLLiges straw robots are also available to automatically place straw where it is needed.
Data shows the system produces 20 per cent less NH-free ammonia compared to other straw systems in a warm barn environment. In terms of performance, daily gain was 0.820g/day/piglet using the Xaletto, compared to 0.800g for straw systems and 0.850g for slurry.
In addition, a composting period can be added after the growing period of the animal, adding woodchips to dung. Usually, the process takes around six months and can be used as fertiliser for arable farming operations. It is stable for storing until the optimum application time. Or, it can be used for biogas plants, producing 394 litres of methane to 1kg dung. FG
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Farm-to-farm livestock solutions
Hassall Brothers Auctioneers and Valuers has been successfully delivering farm-tofarm livestock solutions to its clients across the UK for over six years, providing its clients with a convenient, cost-e ective and dependable solution to buying and selling livestock. The business sells approximately 250 animals a month, with purchases ranging from a single bull to a complete herd.
Hassall Brothers prides itself on its extensive knowledge of the cattle market, strong farming relationships and genuine passion for getting the best result for its clients.
Speaking about the solution, director Dan Hassall said: “We understand that farming is evolving and time is becoming an increasingly precious resource. Through our farm-to-farm livestock service, our clients have access to a huge range of dairy and beef cattle, saving busy farmers the time of travelling to market when they might not nd exactly what they need. We also provide haulage, alleviating the arrangement-making headache for the farmer. “We only work with farmers we trust and know are legitimate. We conduct thorough due diligence checks on herd health to ensure that any animal being sold is t and well and from a diseasefree herd. Any health concerns surrounding the potential for disease entering a herd are further alleviated as livestock sold directly from farm do not encounter any other animals en route. As we diligently vet the animals we market, many of our farmers, particularly repeat customers, trust us implicitly and ask us to select on their behalf, saving the time of viewing in person,” continued Dan.
When a farmer is making a signi cant decision, like selling or purchasing stock, they need to know that they are working with a business they can trust and that will deliver on its promises: “We go the extra mile do deliver a quality service and o er our clients value for money. We manage the complete process from initial enquiry through to delivery of stock to its new home. Our service includes a farm visit/valuation, free website
“Our clients have access to a huge range of dairy listing and inclusion in our weekly stock listings email and arranging client viewings and nance. “One of the key bene ts for our farmers (buyers and sellers alike) and beef cattle, saving is that they receive a transparent buying or selling price. We also ensure busy farmers the time nancial security for both parties – no of travelling to market animal ever leaves a farm until it has been paid for. Providing the right when they might not result for both seller and buyer is our nd exactly what number one priority as this is not a they need. typical sales transaction – it is about livelihoods. Ensuring we guide both buyer and seller to ensure we nd and place the right cattle to suit the respective system and contract is paramount,” continued Dan. FG
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Mastitis: How to implement an e ective hygiene programme
Evans Vanodine provides advice on pre- and post-milking protocols, as well as products and other measures that can help to prevent and manage mastitis on farm.
Mastitis usually occurs as an immune response to bacterial infection and can come from a variety of microbial sources present on farm, or as a result of chemical, mechanical or thermal injury to the animal’s udder, leading to increased numbers of somatic cells and bacteria in milk.
A system must be in place to prevent the transmission of bacteria between cows during milking. The implementation of an e ective hygiene programme with good machine maintenance, in addition to accurate mastitis records and dry cow therapy, has been demonstrated to reduce incidences of mastitis.
Evans Vanodine manufactures a broad range of dairy hygiene chemicals for use and application throughout the milking process, including pre- and post-teat disinfectants which combat mastitis pathogens whilst ensuring good teat condition.
For pre-milking, Evans recommends that teats are wiped clean to remove organic soiling, then disinfected with a pre-milking disinfectant, helping to ensure better milk quality. Evans produces an extensive range of pre-dipping teat preparations, such as Pre-Dip and EvaFoam.
Post-milking, teats must be dipped or sprayed immediately after removal of the cluster, with a teat disinfectant such as the Defra- and VMD-regulated Masocare RTU, which kills mastitis pathogens, whilst ensuring good teat condition. When cleaning machinery after milking, all surfaces must be cleaned to e ectively remove all milk residues to prevent the growth of bacteria, which could lead to future milk contamination.
Products used must remove protein and fat whilst aiming to control the build-up of milkstone. Evans recommends GP Acid, a fastacting, acid-based descaler to prevent milkstone build up; and Vanosan/ Vanorinse for e ective cleaning of the bulk milk tank and milking machine. The requirements for milk quality are constantly changing, therefore a prevention programme for mastitis is vital in maximising the quantity and quality of milk produced.
Evans Vanodine houses three onsite laboratories. Its extensive range is complimented by the hands-on approach o ered; including technical support, farm visits and support materials. If you are struggling with elevated bactoscans and high somatic cell counts, visit www.evansvanodine. co.uk or contact the company to nd your local distributor. FG
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New tech to boost cow productivity and sustainability
Dairy technology company Waikato Milking Systems has announced the launch of an exciting new product to help farmers make better long-term decisions for the care of their herd, and their dairy businesses.
Waikato recently launched its new CowTRAQ Collars and TracHQ software in partnership with dairy management technology company, Nedap. Waikato’s GM sales and operations ROW, Jamie Mikkelson, said the CowTRAQ Collars o er complete heat and health monitoring for every cow in the herd.
“The collars can identify each cow and keep track of their signs of heat, position, eating, rumination, standing, lying, walking and inactive behavior 24/7. It provides a precise and complete picture about the fertility, health, well-being and nutritional status of each cow and each herd.”
The collars o er farmers a chance to improve in several areas, including reproduction results, increased labour e ciency as well as farm management, to get more productive and sustainable herds.
“Better cow health and condition is also an important area where the collars can make a di erence, by detecting health issues earlier,” Jamie said.
“That means treatment and recovery can be more e ective, fertility can improve and long-term it can reduce mortality rates.”
Jamie said the data the collars supply can save on costs and give cows the individual attention they need.
“It means farmers can focus resources on the right cows, at the right time, with the correct treatment. It’ll help farmers keep a close eye on the health, comfort and wellbeing of their animals, while increasing production using the same or fewer resources.”
Waikato’s TracHQ software translates data captured by the collars into information the operator can understand and easily view on a PC, tablet or smartphone. Everyone working on the farm can have access to real-time information and insights on each cow or herd.
“It can generate real-time and relevant alerts, to-do lists, reports and barn maps to help manage and control the herd,” Jamie said.
TracHQ also integrates with farm automation systems and dairy management programs. It can easily connect with the Waikato range of milking point controls, milk indicators, milk meters and milk analytical sensors.
“It can also connect with our automated sorting system, to automatically sort animals that are either on heat or have an alert that has been raised against their number.”
TracHQ is a modular solution so upgrading to include auto sorting and integration to milking solutions and feeding in the future is simple.
It comes with a three-year, 100 per cent replacement warranty, and graded warranty thereafter. Typically, operating life is 8–10 years. Jamie said the new technology will help farmers improve their bottom line by making data-driven decisions. “Together,
CowTRAQ and TracHQ give farmers an all-in-one, 24/7 cow management system to help them meet the challenges of operating a modern dairy farm.” FG
Waikato’s TracHQ easily view on a PC, and graded warranty thereafter. Typically, operating life is 8–10 years. new technology will help farmers improve their bottom line by making data-driven decisions. “Together,
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Veolia Organics has relaunched its popular dried paper livestock bedding as Komfort-Bedding, which will be showcased at The Great Yorkshire Show (13–16th July).
Consisting of 100 per cent dried paper crumb, Komfort-Bedding provides a clean, extremely comfortable and cost-e ective bedding solution, with minimal dust for a healthier environment.
Komfort-Bedding has excellent absorbency properties so it remains drier for longer, helping animals to stay clean, comfy and more relaxed.
Widely used by dairy farmers for cow cubicles, Komfort-Bedding can also be used for loose pens and other livestock purposes. Its elevated PH content brings health bene ts including improved hoof and hock health, reduced somatic cell counts and less mastitis.
One of Veolia’s customers said: “We started using paper crumb bedding around six months ago and are very much reaping the bene ts using it in our milking cow cubicles.” Another customer commented: “We nd it gives a cost-e ective alternative for deep bedding. With the results we have had, we will certainly continue to use this for the foreseeable future.”
Once the bedding is ready to be changed, it can be safely spread on land with the added bene ts of lime and high organic content to improve soil fertility.
Available from Veolia Organics and Arden Wood Shavings (a Veolia Group company) via nationwide bulk delivery service. Visit Veolia on stand 236a at The Great Yorkshire Show. FG
High quality handling systems essential for safety
Proper handling facilities kept in good working order, and a race and crush suitable for the animals being handed, are essential to avoid injury when handling livestock. HSE gures show two fatalities occurred in 2019/20 as a result of contact with livestock; and it is also a key cause of injury among farmers.
Family business Stockpen UK supplies high quality, heavy-duty sheep handling gates, mobile cattle systems, mobile sheep handling systems, stockyards and calving gates at competitive prices – delivered nationwide.
All products have a hot dipped galvanised nish and come complete with joining pins and accessories where necessary. Gates are eight-railed for multi-use of small and large livestock – meaning one system is versatile to cover all applications.
Among the company’s best sellers are its mobile systems for cattle and sheep, including the new mobile sheep handling systems which launched last year and have proved highly popular with sheep farmers across the UK. Overall, the company has a 96 per cent customer satisfaction rate.
The versatile system has a yard holding capacity of approximately 300 ewes with existing fencing and o ers on-the-spot animal treatment. It is also easily transportable and quick and e ortless to assemble and operate, Stockpen says.
Larger and smaller systems are also on order and in stock. Contact the company directly for more information or to place an order. FG
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