Manure spreader in waiting C
our skid steer loader, which we use to feed out round bales. Gates get buried and waterers have to be adjusted upward. We even have to duck our heads from time to time, to avoid hitting our heads on the rafters as the bedding fills the space. And unfortunately, we do not have the ability to aerate the bedding, much like a gardener would stir their compost. The result is less decomposition and more fermentation of the bedding, leading to stronger smells and ammonia. We apply barn lime and run the barn fans to lessen the odor, but it is still somewhat noticeable. Deep bed pack systems are much better suited for taller buildings like hoop houses with reinforced walls that can handle 4’ of bedding and cleaning pressure. Our traditional dairy barn, even with its stanchions removed, is less ideal. It also takes my husband nearly a week to clean the barn out with our skid steer. The deep bed pack was three feet deep in spots, and transferring all of that material out of the barn and to our waiting manure spreader took many, many trips. We have a special bedding grabber attachment that makes quicker work of the job, but it is still painstaking. Some spots can only be accessed and cleaned by hand. Once the entire barn was cleaned out, and the floor scraped and allowed to dry, we spread lime and shavings. We busted up a few dozen “junk” bales to give the animals a nice, cozy place to bed down. It was like heaven in there! I don’t know who was happier, the goats or me, but we all feel much better about bringing babies into this freshly cleaned barn. •
Suzie Jones and her husband, Peter, own Jones Family Farm in Herkimer. Together, with their children, they produce specialty goat cheeses and gelato. Find them at local farmers’ markets and online: www.anotherjonesfamilyfarm.com
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