The Rural Voice, 1998-04, Page 57Most new dairy barns feature high,
white cathedral ceilings, providing a
bright, pleasant environment.
year-round. Even two or three years
ago people were looking at a four
foot concrete wall before the
ventilation opening. Now they realize
that the benefits of the brightness and
air quality mean that even if there is
one tough month in the dead of
winter, it may be worth it for the
other 11 months.
House agrees the wall opening has
expanded to the point that the entire
wall may now open up with a two-
stage curtain. The bottom stage will
remain closed in the variable months
while the top curtain adjusts up and
down to deal with the varying
temperatures. In summer months, the
entire curtain opens for a sheltered,
outdoors feel.
Most new dairy barns are
choosing high, bright
cathedral ceilings but the
amount of insulation being used in
the ceiling varies across the province,
House says. Some producers are
choosing a minimum of insulation
whole others want a high R -factor.
"It comes back to the kind of indoor
atmosphere you want," he says.
"More insulation means higher cost
but gives you more control over the
environment." Cattle can produce
their own heat if they're fed well so
in a cold barn the key is to have a
manure system that will work under
cold conditions.
House also feels there may be a
trend toward using more sand
bedding in dairy barns. Sand, he says
is cheap and plentiful and makes an
excellent bedding for dairy barns but
the problem has been with handling it
in manure. But a new machine has
been invented in the U.S. that will
separate the sand from manure.
While it's now available at a cost of
US$30,000, if the cost comes down it
might be an attractive option to more
farmers.0
BUTLER
BERG
F..IDry
Oon.nuoue Flaw
Dryer reel
Auto Dry
Controller
• GSI Feed Tanks
• Butler Bins
EQUIPMENT • Flex Auger conveyors
SUPERIOR QUALITY- SUPERIOR WORKMANSHIP
AND ON-THE-JOB SERVICE
LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTION LTD.
John Baak, President
M..I, Cul B4n
Poore
Tram as strong
.s other floors
Centrifugal
Fan t Heatar
el ., /Mow.
RR 1 Hanover 519-369-5478
Vanden Heuvel
Construction Ltd.
COMMERCIAL AND AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
• Poultry • Hog • Dairy
R.R. 2, GODERICII, ONTARIO N7A 3X8
TELEPHONE 519-524-9176
FAX 519-524-9240
After 6 p.m.
Call Ken at 519-522-1858
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