Dairy Operations and Manure Collection Practices
At a free stall dairy, manure is contained in small ally ways and cleaned out with a manure vacuum system.
At a free stall dairy, dairy cows are confined to stalls and sheds for milking, feeding, and daily dairy operations.
At a dry lot dairy, cows are able to roam and graze and are not confined to stalls or sheds.
Dry lot dairy.
Dairy cows in open field.
At free stall dairy operations, a vacuum system sucks the dairy manure from designated alleys.
Dry lot facilities utilize scrappers to rake the manure into piles. Scrappers are made of tools such as tires because the soft rubber does not disturb the rocks or established manure pack.
When manure is collected at a dry lot facility, the scrapper collects the manure and levels the ground. However, inorganic material such as bedding and rocks may be collected with the manure, which subsequently can contaminate manure before composting.
At a free stall dairy, manure is contained in small ally ways and cleaned out with a manure vacuum system.
At a free stall dairy, dairy cows are confined to stalls and sheds for milking, feeding, and daily dairy operations.
At a dry lot dairy, cows are able to roam and graze and are not confined to stalls or sheds.
Dry lot dairy.
Dairy cows in open field.
At free stall dairy operations, a vacuum system sucks the dairy manure from designated alleys.
Dry lot facilities utilize scrappers to rake the manure into piles. Scrappers are made of tools such as tires because the soft rubber does not disturb the rocks or established manure pack.
When manure is collected at a dry lot facility, the scrapper collects the manure and levels the ground. However, inorganic material such as bedding and rocks may be collected with the manure, which subsequently can contaminate manure before composting.