UK Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Extension Newsletter Fall 2018 Issue 4

BAE EXTENSION

ISSUE 4

FALL 2018 BIOSYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

IN THIS ISSUE

Bud Box—A Different Way to Work Cattle

BUD BOX—A DIFFERENT WAY TO WORK CATTLE

By Josh Jackson, Ph.D. Assistant Extension Professor Livestock Systems

CELEBRATE UK’S WATER WEEK BY GETTING YOUR FEET WET WITH PROJECT WET

Working cattle shouldn’t be an extremely stressful experience for the cattle or the producer. To alleviate some of the issues that can be encountered with working cattle, care must be taken to ensure that a low-stress environment is achieved in your working facility.

HARVEST SAFETY RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION ACROSS KENTUCKY

Maximizing welfare involves taking advantage of the animal’s natural behavioral responses. The flight zone, the minimum distance from the animal to induce movement (Figure 1), is one of the more important behavioral concepts that cattlemen can understand. Each animal will have different points of balance and size for its flight zone.

For most cattle, the size of their flight zone could be measured in feet, but for others, it may be Left, Figure 1. Cattle flight zone.

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fields. Moving into and out of the flight zone will allow you to manipulate the animal’s movement, which is important in any cattle working facility.

the width of the access alley (8-12 ft. as shown in Figure 2) that is leading to the crowding area. Additional gates would be essential to progressively push the animals through this crowding area.

General Recommendations for Working Cattle Crowding Tubs • Use methodical movements • Use sorting sticks and paddles, not tobacco sticks • Work your cattle as quietly as possible; limit yelling • Be patient. (Sometimes it will just take a while… UK beats Florida in football.)

When you evaluate your cattle working facility, consider your main components: Headgate, chute, working alley, crowding area, holding/ sorting pens, scale, and loadout area. In the last newsletter, I analyzed the minimum specifications for a working facility. In this article, I will follow that up with a focus on the crowding area and an alternative, the bud box.

Several different options for circular crowding tubs exist. There are 90°, 135°, 180°, 260°, and 360° tubs. Each cattle operation will have different spatial and budgetary constraints, so use the appropriate angled tub which fits into your layout.

One of the primary differences for tubs, other than the angle, would be either the point of entry and exit for the animals. The exit point can be either along the circumference of the circle or along the radius line of the circle. There are several commercially available tubs that would function well for most producers. The goal of these systems is to allow cattle to travel along the inner circumference of the tub and use their natural behavior to follow this curve into the working alley.

Funnel (or Straight-Sided) Crowding Pen

Double Alley

A straight-sided crowding area is designed just as it sounds (Figure 2). This is the simplest type

Use the gregarious nature of cattle to your advantage when possible. Moving a group of animals will be easier than moving just one animal. Therefore, moving cattle from the crowding area to the chute will be easier in a double alley as opposed to a single alley. The double alley takes advantage of their natural instincts to move together. Double alleys also allow for increased capacity and queueing of animals (Figure 3). For most small Figure 3. Conceptual drawing of a wooden double alley.

Figure 2. Conceptual drawing of a funnel alley. of crowding area. For this type of crowding area, one side is straight and the other is angled at about 30° to create a funnel. Having both sides of the crowding area angled sounds in theory like it would work well, but from a flow and functionality standpoint, one side must be straight.

The widest portion of the funnel should match University of Kentucky Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

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farms here in Kentucky, a double alley would be a nice addition but not essential. Similarly, the gregarious nature is why we always suggest that producers try to never leave one animal alone in a pen. The animal, when left alone, may try whatever it takes to get back with the other animals in the herd.

animals themselves or with limited labor. Reli-

Bud Box The use of a bud box system is something that I’m seeing more producers in the state use. From a behavioral standpoint, a bud box takes advantage of the natural tendency of cattle to go back/try to escape from the way they came. The last point in which the animals were located is the conceptual “safe place” for them. Thus, the desire to return.

The width of the bud box should be 10-14 ft with the latter being the preferred and 20-24 ft in length. The desired length to width ratio for a bud box should be 2:1. A few animals, approximately three, would be loaded into the box. (Overloading will impede the movement of the cattle and make it difficult to move them.) Cattle exit the bud box perpendicular to the overall length of the bud box.

For this system to function effectively, you would need to have at least a 20 ft working alley leading from the bud box to the working chute. That way an adequate number of animals can be queued to work from the bud box. Back stops would also be effective in assisting with moving animals by only allowing for one-way flows. An additional consideration is to add a walk-through gate in the bud box, which will make it easier to transition from the bud box to the chute area.

The bud box has been implemented by several smaller producers to assist them in working

Figure 4. Flow of cattle in bud box. Producer moves cattle into bud box. Producer closes the gate (purple arrow) and moves along the side closest to the bud box exit (blue arrow). The cattle work around the producer and into exit down working alley (red arrow). able and qualified labor is becoming increasingly difficult to find. If the facility is designed with this in mind, working cattle should not be as hard. The flow of cattle into a bud box is shown in Figure 4.

Final Thoughts At the end of the day, each type of crowding area or bud box should be functional, and the final selection comes down to the personal preference of the producer. On any working facility, some animals are going to be harder to work than others.

If you can’t get an animal worked or even to the facility, it would be a good time to reevaluate why that animal is in your herd.

Josh Jackson, Ph.D., is an Assstant Extension Professor in Livestock Systems Engineering.

2nd Annual BAE Ag Engineering Showcase Coming in March 2019 University of Kentucky Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

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Celebrate UK’s Water Week by Getting Your Feet Wet with Project WET

By Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E., M.P.P. Associate Extension Professor Bioenvironmental Engineering Each October, the University of Kentucky Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment (TFISE) Water Systems Working Group celebrates what else but water! The Water Working Group is comprised of faculty, staff, and students who come together to advance water-related research, education, and outreach at UK and in the broader community.

Celebrate Water for an Entire Week Not satisfied with one-day of events, we celebrate water for an entire week through an event called Water Week. Each day of Water Week has one or more events (e.g., films, panel discussions, invited talks, and service activities) designed to inform UK’s campus and the surrounding community about the environmental and economic importance of water (learn more about upcoming events on Facebook @UKWaterWeek). Everyone is welcome to attend Water Week. Water Week is thematic in that activities focus on an issue of local and global importance. This year’s Water Week theme is citizen engagement.

Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is a nationally and internationally used environmental education curriculum with activities that are interdisciplinary, hands-on, easy to use, and fun.

You can learn more about Project WET at http:// www.projectwet.org/. I use activities from Project WET to teach elementary-aged youth to a college-aged/adult learners as the lessons are easily adaptable. I also find that the level of engagement of participants is high as these activities are not only educational but fun.

Along with Amanda Gumbert (UK Water Quality Extension Specialist) and Malissa McAlister (Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute), I will conduct a Project WET training on Tuesday, October 16th, at the University of Kentucky Good Barn. The training will start at 9:00 AM and end at 4:00 PM (Eastern Time Zone). Registration for the training is $55 and covers lunch, snacks, and workshop materials. Participants successfully completing the training will receive a Project WET guidebook.

Register To register for the Project WET workshop, visit https://www.uky.edu/bae/cpd. UK/KSU extension personnel may register on KERS. For questions about the workshop, contact me at carmen.agouridis@uky.edu or 859-218-4344.

Project WET Training One Water Week event that may be of particular interest to 4-H Youth Development and Ag & Natural Resources agents is a Project WET training.

Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E., M.P.P., is an Associate Extension Professor in Bioenvironmental Engineering.

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Harvest Safety

By Mark Purschwitz, Ph.D. Extension Professor Agricultural Safety and Health Fall harvest is a stressful time for any farmer, physically as well as financially. Many hazards can take away life and limb in an instant, and the hurried pace of harvest makes it more likely that someone will fall victim. Here are a few hazards and precautions to keep in mind; be aware that every farm is different and may have additional hazards.

(never use a tool to short across the starter terminals, bypassing all safety switches.)

• If a machine is stuck, bring in equipment large enough to safely pull it out. Only use equipment and components designed for the forces involved.

For example, a stretched nylon rope can break a clevis and cause it to fly back at fatal speeds.

Transport Hazards • Always use a locking hitch pin, large enough for the load being pulled.

• Check tires for proper inflation and replace them if they will not hold up to road use. You will be liable if a tire fails and someone else gets hurt.

• Be sure brakes can stop the load being pulled.

• Lock tractor brake pedals together for roadway travel.

• Have a bright, clean, SMV emblem and other markings on any equipment taken on the road.

• Make sure headlights and flashing lights work, and use them on the road even in daylight.

• Use escort vehicles for over-width equipment.

• Pull over when safe, to allow traffic to pass.

Machinery Hazards • Make sure all shields and other safety devices are in place and properly secured.

• Review equipment manuals before heading to the field.

• Properly train everyone operating or working around a machine.

• The safest place for the operator is in the seat.

Avoid field problems by keeping equipment properly adjusted and repairing or replacing worn parts.

• Be mindful of the speed of machine components. For example, in a single second, a standard 540 RPM PTO shaft will make nine revolutions and can pull seven feet of entangled clothing.

• Always shut off the engine or lock out electrical power before unplugging equipment.

• When other people are around, such as when hooking up or unloading, be extra cautious before backing up or driving away. Make sure you know where everyone is.

• Always start tractors or other machines from the operator’s platform. Never bypass-start a tractor

Fire Hazards • Keep harvesting equipment free from trash buildup, especially around the engine or exhaust where it can catch on fire.

• Inspect for fuel or oil leaks that can result in fire.

• Have fire extinguishers available in the field on harvesting equipment and around the farmstead.

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Crop Storage Hazards • Do a complete assessment of the hazards involved in entering crop storage facilities such as grain bins and silos; always use proper entrance procedures.

• Always turn off, de-energize, and lock out electrical power before entering grain storage facilities or working on related equipment.

• Use fall protection as appropriate; have lifelines, harnesses, and other equipment available as needed.

• Keep personal protective equipment on hand, such as respiratory, hearing, eye protection, etc.

• Stay out of upright silos (silage) for three weeks, to avoid toxic silo gas, and blow it out before entering the first time.

• Be aware of runover hazards from trucks and machinery around storage facilities, and modify traffic patterns as needed.

Falls • Keep operator’s platform free of tools or other objects.

• Clean ladders, steps, etc., from mud and other slippery materials • Wear work shoes with non-slip soles.

• Always keep three points of contact when mounting or dismounting – two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand.

• Only use stable ladders or platforms for maintenance and repairs.

• Be aware of the effects of aging, such as decreased

balance, decreased strength, and slower reactions.

Human Factors • Get plenty of sleep; don’t rely on stimulants.

• No alcohol or drugs; be aware of any adverse effects from medications, such as drowsiness.

• Take periodic breaks; if eating in the field, still allow time to relax for 15-20 minutes.

• Dress for comfort but also for safety.

• Only assign age-appropriate tasks.

• Do not allow extra riders on machinery unless a second seat is provided.

• Wear hearing protection around loud equipment, both field and farmstead.

Emergency Preparedness • Check in periodically with people who are working alone.

• Have a well-stocked first aid kit.

• Have fire extinguishers and make sure people know how to use them.

• Think about how to give directions to fields; first responders may only know the location of your home or farmstead.

• Be prepared to help first responders get through mud.

No List of Hazards Can Be Complete Remember, this is not intended to be a complete, comprehensive list of hazards. Every farm is different, and owners/managers must inspect for hazards, remove or mitigate those hazards, and train workers (including family members) accordingly.

Special acknowledgements to Iowa State University’s fact sheet, “Harvest Safety Yields Big Dividends,” by Mark Hanna, Charles V. Schwab, and Laura Miller.

Mark Purschwitz, Ph.D., is an Extension Professor in Agricultural Safety and Health.

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Rainfall Distribution Across Kentucky

By Matt Dixon Meteorologist UK Ag Weather Center Depending on where you live across Kentucky, rainfall has either been downright excessive this year or, in the case of Western Kentucky, lacking at times. The second weekend of the month brought the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon through the area. Many locations picked up in excess of four inches including the Bluegrass Region and Eastern Kentucky, forcing some area rivers into minor flood stages. With the passage of Tropical Depression Florence through the region, Kentucky has now had three tropical systems pass through the area in 2018 with the addition of Alberto. The movement of these tropical systems through Kentucky represents just one of the curveballs that can be thrown at us by Mother Nature in the Lower Ohio Valley. Plenty of others are bound to follow; changing weather conditions are something we have learned to live with.

July 6-7, 2016, a thunderstorm complex moving through Western Kentucky produced eight inches of rainfall within six hours at the Draffenville, Ky., Mesonet site. More on this event can be found at https://www.weather.gov/pah/jul72016flood.

Annual and Seasonal Average Rainfall On average, the Bluegrass State averages 47.90 inches per year based on a thirty-year climate normal between 1981 and 2010. Spring is typically the wettest season for Kentucky, while fall is the driest. As such, April is the wettest month of the year for the state, averaging 5.29 inches. September and October are the driest at 3.35 and 3.36 inches, respectively. The image below shows the annual and seasonal average rainfall for different locations across the state. As you can see, rainfall totals tend to increase as one moves farther south

Rainfall Distribution Recently, I was contacted regarding rainfall distribution throughout the year across the Bluegrass State. With the numerous curveballs seen throughout the year, this topic is more complex than just throwing out the yearly average. We live in a unique area in the United States, which leaves us in an ever-changing environment as it pertains to weather patterns.

Sitting in the Lower Ohio Valley, we are susceptible to a variety of air masses: most notably, dry, cooler air to our north in Canada and moist, humid air to our south from the Gulf of Mexico. The frontal system interaction of these air masses combined with other lifting mechanisms make precipitation chances common throughout the year and keeps Kentuckians on our toes. In just one example, feeding off moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, summer-time thunderstorms can produce very heavy rainfall within a short period time. On

in Kentucky both on an annual and seasonal basis.

While Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport averages 42.52 inches per year, that number increases to nearly 50 at Bowling Green Warren County Airport.

Wettest and Driest Years As stated above, “average” rainfall does not tell the whole story. The wettest year on record for Kentucky occurred just recently in 2011 when the state averaged 64.35 inches, which was over 16 inches above normal. The driest year occurred in 1930 when Kentucky only averaged 20.69 inches for the year. (Just as a side note, 2018 isn’t wildly different from 2011 when it comes to the state-

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wide average rainfall between January and August. 2011 ranks as the fourth wettest on the 124year record, while 2018 is just behind at number seven.) Rainfall accumulations can also change drastically on a year-toyear basis or even month to month. While Kentucky averaged 62.58 inches in 1979, the state turned around and only saw 37.26 inches in 1980, a 25-inch difference!

Periods of Drought and Flooding

and exceptional (dark red) droughts (most notably 2007 and 2012), which can lead to crop/pastures losses and water shortages.

The variability in rainfall does lead to periods of drought and flooding. Short-term drought is prevalent across our area, affecting agriculture most notably during the growing season when timely

On the other side of the spectrum, too much precipitation can also be an issue. Just like drought, flooding can be an issue at any time throughout the year. Just as the case in Western Kentucky

Data Source: Midwestern Regional Climate Center, cli-MATE Application Tools Environment, https://mrcc. illinois.edu/CLIMATE/

Image Source: US Drought Monitor, https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Data/Timeseries.aspx rainfall is crucial. This is reflected in the graph above, which shows almost each year going back to 2005 having some degree of “Abnormally Dry” (yellow) conditions or “Moderate Drought” (light brown). These short-term droughts will usually slow crop and pasture growth, but with Kentucky’s climate, recovery is typically right around the corner as patterns change for the better.

However, while not nearly as frequent, the state is still susceptible to severe (orange), extreme (red),

mentioned above, torrential rainfall producing thunderstorms can lead to periods of flash flooding during the summer months, while remnant tropical systems bring a flooding threat during the fall.

In 1937, prolonged periods of heavy rain kept the threat present even during the winter and spring months. As the National Weather Service in Louisville reports (https://www.weather.gov/lmk/ flood_37), 15 inches of rain fell in only 12 days between the 13th and 24th of January in 1937. From

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the NWS description of the flood: “At McAlpine Lock, the 1937 flood crested at 85.4 feet. By way of comparison, flood stage is 55 feet.” Shown at the top of the previous page are two historic photos (courtesy of NWS) from the Great Flood of 1937, highlighting the Churchill Downs area and a dramatic photo of a horse that had become trapped in a tree during the floodwaters.

In summary, while Kentucky averages 47.90 inches per year, history tells us it can vary drastically from one year to the next in the Lower Ohio Valley.

Matt Dixon is a meteorologist in the Agricultural Weather Center.

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The BAE Extension Newsletter is published quarterly by the University of Kentucky Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department. ©2018 Editorial Committee

Director: Michael Montross, Ph.D., P.E. Editor, Designer: Karin Pekarchik Contributors: Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E., M.P.P., Matt Dixon, Morgan Hayes, Ph.D., P.E., Joshua Jackson, Ph.D., Mark Purschwitz, Ph.D., Sam McNeill, Ph.D., P.E.

Contact the editor: karin.pekarchik@uky.edu Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

The University of Kentucky is an Equal Opportunity Organization.

Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.

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