The Rural Voice, 1990-03, Page 56WHAT'S NEW
SPREAD STRAW
AUTOMATICALLY
A machine capable of spreading
baled straw evenly and automatically
over crops has been developed by a Brit-
ish company.
Versions of the straw spreader are
available with capacities of six or three
big bales. The six -bale version of the R
L S traw Spreader from Aratech Interna-
tional covers up to 1.2 hectares a day,
while the three -bale model can cover 0.8
hectares a day.
if
e x 7
The three -bale model.
The spreaders also have other appli-
cations. They can be used to convert
straw bales into mushroom compost,
bedding in poultry houses, and mulch
for strawberries or other crops. They
can also re -bale large straw bales into
smaller bales for livestock.
Enquiries about licensing for manu-
facturing the spreaders in Canada
should be directed to Aeon International
Corporation, 260 Seventh Avenue,
Marion, Iowa, 52302, U.S.0
POULTRY CAGE
REDUCES STRESS
A poultry housing system designed
at the University of Guelph has brought
the Ontario Animal Welfare Foundation
and the Canadian Egg Marketing
Agency together in a unique funding
venture.
The housing system aims to enhance
the "quality of life" for laying hens by
creating a more natural environment
and giving them more room to move
around, without reducing egg produc-
tivity. Funding from the two organiza-
tions will support a three-year evalu-
ation of the system.
The new system has a central area
with multi-level roosts, feeding troughs,
52 THE RURAL VOICE
and water cups. On each side of this area
there is a large floor where the birds can
walk, scratch the ground, or interact.
Against the walls on both sides of the
room are two rows of nests. The system
comes with mechanized egg collection
so that there is little change in farm
labour costs.
Before beginning to evaluate the
system, poultry science professor Frank
Humik and philosophy professor Hugh
Lehman worked together to identify
"quality of animal life" criteria.
One of the parameters the scientists
came up with was longevity, Humik
says. "Presumably, if the birds' needs
are being satisfied properly, it will be
reflected in their life span."
The study will also be looking at
behaviours that indicate the birds are
stressed or bored. Dr. Toshio Tanaka, a
poultry behaviour scientist from Azabu
University in Japan, is spending his
sabbatical at Guelph to work on the
project's evaluation.
Although the system is not yet viable
for the market, Hurnik and Tanaka will
be comparing it with the battery system
in terms of productivity and costs to the
farmer.
"If we want farmers to use a system
that is better for the welfare of the bird,
it must also be a system that provides
enough incentive to the farmer to be
implemented," Hurnik says.0
MAT TRAPS DIRT
Dirt Trapper from Robert Gordon
Company is an entrance mat that traps
dirt, salt, and snow and is easy to keep
clean.
411
1rupsflvl r roitras nuu. Cleans Easily
The matting can be ordered in stock
sizes or cut to order. Contact the com-
pany at 371 Hamilton Road, London,
Ontario, N5Z 9Z9, telephone 672-3525
or 1-800-265-4116, fax 673-5654.0
STOVE BURNS
WOOD PELLETS
A stove that burns wood fuel pellets
cleanly and efficiently is now available
from Hills Feed and Farm Supply in
Clinton, Ontario.
The pellets are fed through a hopper
into the Volcanic Glow Stove's augur
system. Thermostatically controlled for
optimum comfort, the stove features a
combustion fan for maximum effi-
ciency.
Others features of the stove are a
nickel -plated door with an 8 x 11"
safety -glass window and a circulating
fan. The pellet hopper holds enough
fuel for 24 hours of heating, and ashes
need to be removed only once a week.
Wood pellets, with only a 10 per cent
water content, create little smoke, virtu-
ally no creosote, and leave only a small
amount of ash.
For more information, contact Hills
Feed and Farm Supply, P. O. Box
14000, 275 Huron St., Clinton, Ontario,
NOM 1LO, telephone 519-482-7706.0
SOFTWARE FOR
SWINE OPERATION
Smart Breeder is a professional,
high-performance breeding herd man-
agement system from FBS Systems.
The computer software maintains
full genetic, health, and reproductive
histories on individual sows, boars, and
litters.
Menu -driven and featuring built-in
help screens, Smart Breeder prints work
schedules and input forms and single or
multiple -part sow cards. It includes a
planning module and integrates with
other Farm Smart programs.
The program offers user -defined
scoring and analysis by herd, enterprise,
building, group, bloodline, pen, or indi-
vidual, and has a built-in "database -
style" report generator. It will import
data from Sow Audit and PigCHAMP or
export data to spreadsheet database soft-
ware.
Farm Smart software is distributed
in Canada by K. S. Software of R. R. 3,
Wyoming, Ontario, NON 1TO, tele-
phone 519-845-0109. Dealer enquires
are invited.0