4 TIPS FOR CHOOSING A MANURE SOLUTION

By Renee Schrift

JUST AS PRODUCERS CAREFULLY CONSIDER FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS ADVICE, selecting a team to help bring facilities and manure management visions to life deserves the same thoughtful evaluation.

Proper manure handling is necessary for animal health and comfort, and it plays a significant role in a dairy farm’s sustainability plan.

Manure handling often presents many challenging tradeoffs between environmental, economic, community, and producer priorities. Appropriate manure management will ensure valuable manure resources are used with minimal impact on the environment and surrounding communities.

While the carbon footprint of Canada’s milk production is currently among the lowest in the world at 0.92 kg of carbon dioxide per litre, consumers expect continued progress.

Hitting these goals means maximizing facilities, handling options, employee workflow, nutrient utilization, and future options. Here are four points to consider:

1. LOOK FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Choose a manure management solution and partner dedicated to continuous improvement. A prospective partner should include a team with deep industry knowledge, technical expertise and a history of tackling challenges that result in positive outcomes for their customers, so ask for references. Years of experience supplying unique solutions with local engineering, service and knowledge are strong attributes to consider.

2. SEEK DURABLE EQUIPMENT

Handling manure, especially sand-laden manure, requires heavyduty equipment. Look for equipment that’s easy-to-use, to get the job done right. Ask about equipment downtime, parts runs and investment needed to maintain the equipment.

3. CONSIDER PROCESSES

To transform manure from a challenge into an opportunity, look for a team of manure management engineers focused on process development and the evolution of manure on your dairy farm. Walk them through your barns, talk to your team and collaborate with your local dealer. Discuss the challenges you face today, whether it’s an increasing cost of sand, concerns about sand ending up in lagoons, wear and tear on equipment or how to incorporate the right manure handling solutions that synchronize with an anaerobic digester system.

Then, look ahead to future needs. Are you going to expand your farm? Do you like the way you’re currently handling manure? Are you interested in putting a flume in, for example, because you’ll be adding another barn? Do you need to change your conveyance system to get manure out of the barn for processing? These are just a few of the questions you’ll need to think about whether you are considering a new facility or updating an existing barn.

4. ASK FOR HELP

Investigate a potential partner’s dealer network and sales team. Do they have the knowledge needed to deliver the results you need today and tomorrow? Does a potential partner collaborate with their dealers to offer continuing education and solutions to keep their

A MANURE PARTNER SHOULD:

• Analyze challenges and opportunities.

• Share experiences from other farms.

• Make recommendations to benefit your farm, specifically.

• Develop an effective manure management plan that can flex as your needs change.

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Cattle Onsite customers competitive and growing while addressing sustainable environmental and economic considerations? Ensure the resources are there to get the results you want.

Proper manure handling is necessary for animal health and comfort, and it plays a significant role in a dairy farm’s sustainability plan.

In a nutshell, a good partner is concerned about outcomes, committed to team goals, willing and able to listen, eager to work on your farm’s team, and able to offer challenging ideas. This partner will also help you set the stage for the future and work to ensure your farm is prepared for tomorrow – whatever it may bring.

Renee Schrift is Business Line Director – Agricultural Systems, McLanahan Corporation.

The

Last year, Mark Hamel, Vice Chair, Dairy Farmers of Ontario and Board Member for Region 11, Bruce and Grey, pledged “I’m In,” in Dairy Farmers of Canada’s integrated ad campaign focusing on DFC’s pledge to reach Net-Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Resourcefulness and efficiency are in the DNA of every dairy producer. Every day, dairy producers across Ontario take steps toward making their farms more efficient. DFO and the board fully support the national dairy industry target of Net-Zero emissions by 2050. Together, DFO and Dairy Farmers of Canada are focused on supporting realistic and practical on-farm solutions that improve environmental sustainability. A recent survey of our farmers showed 81 per cent are taking steps to promote soil health, for example, by reducing erosion and rotating cover crops. Others are installing biodigesters, changing animal feed and reducing plastic waste. We’re proud of their efforts and will continue to support producers in achieving the Net-Zero goal on their farms.

“We use Udder Comfort™ on fresh cows, works tremendously on fresh 2-yr-olds, softening udders quickly to increase comfort and performance. We have used Udder Comfort 10 years, spray in the parlor, lotion at shows. There is a real bene t there,” says Jeff King, Kings-Ransom Farm, Schuylerville, NY, milking 1000 registered Holsteins, making 14,000kgM at 90,000 SCC.

Award-winning products start with quality udders making quality milk. They credit staff, milking routines, tness genetics, sand bedding, cow comfort, including Udder Comfort for fresh 2-yr-olds. With over 120 EX, they produce A.I. sires like Dynasty, Cadillac, Dropbox from homebred cow families like Cleavage, Cleo, Dextra.

“It’s easy to love the great ones but when cows walk in the freestall with good feet and legs and udders full of milk, cows the kids enjoy showing, that’s what it’s about,” adds Jan King.