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Water Irrigation, Liquid Manure Handling and More!

Billy Black, Author at High Tech Equipment

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Billy Black

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Balancing a healthy flock with a healthy profit requires smart planning for poultry litter management.

One of the major challenges poultry growers face in today’s farming industry is poultry litter management. Ideally, growers should perform a complete cleanout annually. But with availability of fresh bedding material shrinking and the price increasing, many growers find it’s nearly impossible to make that happen.

However, if bedding isn’t properly maintained, your entire flock is in jeopardy. Unhealthy flocks mean diminishing returns in an industry that has a notoriously fickle balance between investment and profit. That’s why poultry growers need a smart, cost-effective poultry litter management system.

The best poultry litter system will depend on several factors, the most important being:

  • Availability of fresh bedding
  • Room to store and/or spread used litter
  • Amount of downtime between flock turnover

Poultry Litter Blade

When good poultry litter equipment goes bad

Over time, poultry bedding becomes caked from excrement, feathers, feed, water, and traffic from both the flock and growers. That caked litter may contain 40 – 60% moisture. If not completely replaced or adequately cleaned and dried, the litter will accumulate high levels of ammonia and infectious microbes.

Even if birds do not appear sick, they can contract diseases which affect their growth and subsequent price per head. Neglected poultry litter also poses a health risk to everyone working among the flock. Respiratory disorders such as ODTS (organic dust toxic syndrome) are all too common for poultry workers. Poultry litter dust carries pathogens and toxins along with gases like ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and other volatile organic compounds.

Mitigating the risk of dirty poultry litter

Ideally, the best time to clean or replace poultry bedding is in the downtime between flocks. It’s best to extend the downtime as much as possible to allow the litter to dry and to bring the ammonia levels down to a safe level.

Of course, the longer you go without raising a flock, the longer you have between paychecks. But studies have shown that good management combined with extended downtimes improves feed conversion by at least 1 – 2 points. That means a bigger return and a safer environment for your workers and flock.

Here is what a good basic Poultry Litter management system might look like during downtime:

  1. After selling the birds, remove litter cake as soon as possible and run it through a litter cleaner. Only remove the caked layer and don’t go too deep. If exposed to oxygen, the bottom layer is more prone to grow pathogens and produce ammonia.
  2. If the previous flock experienced any health or production problems, or if the poultry litter has not been cleaned for a year or longer, windrowing the litter to let it go through a heat will remove moisture and reduce the pathogen load. Allow at least 3 days of ventilation after spreading the litter back out before you bring in a new flock.
  3. Keep the poultry house closed and run timer fans at regular intervals daily to remove moisture and ammonia. If you have attic vents, run those too.
  4. Preheat the house as required for your incoming flock. If applying chemical litter treatment, closely follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maximum effectiveness.

Get the right poultry litter management equipment

Here at High Tech Equipment, we have several products you can implement into your management routine. These products are designed to save you time and money, while ensuring a healthier flock and a greater ROI.

We carry several new and used brands such as Lewis Brothers and Priefert. One of our most popular products is the Lewis Brothers Housekeeper, first launched in 1987. It revolutionized the poultry industry by providing:

  • Reduced heating costs
  • Less need for additional bedding between flocks
  • Extended lifespan for in-house equipment
  • Lower ammonia levels
  • Reduced fly and beetle populations
  • Better pathogen control

Today, Lewis Brothers has several Housekeeper models for poultry operations of all sizes, including low profile machines for houses with low ceilings.

Is your poultry litter management system up to snuff?

Whether you have a chicken or turkey operation, High Tech Equipment is here to help you develop a good litter management routine. Browse our inventory for high-quality new and used poultry litter spreaders, levelers, blowers, blades, housecleaners, and windrowers. Or call us, and we’ll help you find the right tool to handle the job.

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For this dirty job, you need the right manure handling equipment.

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Manure handling is one of those jobs that’s a necessary evil for any livestock operation. Having the right equipment to handle the job makes all the difference. Whatever your needs, there’s a Houle manure tank for that.

 

The kind of manure tank you need will vary depending on several factors, including:

  • Ratio of solids vs. liquids
  • Size of the livestock operation
  • Destination of the manure
  • How far and how high the manure needs to be pumped

 

Houle makes a wide range of manure tanks, manure pumps and other manure handing equipment. We’ll touch on some of the Houle manure pumps we carry here at High Tech Equipment so you can decide which one could benefit your farm the most.

 

Irrigation Pumps

 

Irrigation pumps transfer manure over long distances from the reception pit to the main storage area and come in both stationary and mobile models for use on a trailer. These versatile machines can also be used to feed a drag hose system or an irrigation system.

 

Maxi Pumps

 

These high capacity centrifugal pumps are best for transferring water, hog slurry, or very liquid manure to wherever you’re storing it. Maxi pumps have a 3-point hitch with adjustable legs for easy transport. When paired with a side mount agitator kit, you can agitate or pump manure to and from a tall vertical reservoir.

 

Maxi pumps can also work with a port hole agitator for pit pumping or can be used for a solid manure platform to quicken loading time.

lagoon pto pumps

PTO Pumps

 

These come in 3 different varieties.

 

  1. Articulated PTO Pump – Far reaching with a solid build and 3-point hitch, these pumps mix and pump manure from concrete pits or lagoons with steep slopes. There are a few different kinds to choose from depending on your operation. Wired and wireless remote-control options are available.
  2. Lagoon PTO Pump – Used to homogenize and transfer liquid dairy manure or hog slurry containing minimal bedding. Come in several sizes with sturdy trailers to provide excellent reach in large lagoons.
  3. Vertical PTO Pump – Best for transfer and agitation of liquid dairy or hog slurry in tall concrete reservoirs.

 

Vertical Electric Pumps

 

Vertical manure pumps are best for transferring hog or dairy manure from a reception pit to the main storage area when there’s high head pressure. Some can pump a relatively long distance. Others can be mounted on a pontoon. Some also have a belt drive option for farms on 50 Hz power.

 

Electric Pumps on a Pontoon

Pontoon pumps transfer surface liquid for flushing tanks or to feed low-pressure irrigation systems. They allow pumping or agitation from anywhere within a wide pond or lagoon. A low-profile design provides stability during windy conditions. No seals or bearings are submerged. An anti-slip galvanized steel deck provides easy maintenance access.

GEA Houle Manure Tank Manure Handling Manure Pump

How to handle cow manure safely

 

Though manure pumping is usually done only a couple times per year, it has the potential to be dangerous if not done properly. Manure gases are the biggest risk. When agitating manure that’s been sitting a while, dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide and methane may be released. These gases are toxic and very flammable.

 

Remember these tips:

  • Evacuate – When agitating or pumping from under the barn floor, evacuate everyone from the building. If you can, also remove the animals.
  • Extinguish – To prevent flash fires or explosions, remove flammable materials from the area. Cut off power to any equipment besides that used for ventilation. Extinguish pilot lights and prohibit smoking.
  • Signage – Make sure clear warning signs are posted at entrances to storage areas and buildings while agitating or pumping manure. Educate family and coworkers to watch for those signs and be aware of the dangers.
  • Ventilate – Pay attention to wind conditions around outdoor manure storage. Ensure your barn has the proper ventilation systems for the type of barn, temperature, and weather conditions.

Manure Spreader with Tandem manure handling

What are your manure handling needs?

 

Whether you have a dairy, hog, or other livestock operation, High Tech Equipment has the right Houle manure handling products for your needs. Browse our inventory for high-quality new and used alley cleaners, pumps, agitators, separators, spreaders, and more. Or call us, and we’ll help you find the right machines to handle the job.

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The right farm irrigation system can mean the difference in profit vs. loss.

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Knowing just how much water specific crops need is vital to a profitable harvest. Depending on the type of crop, soil quality, tillage, slope, and drainage, one field may need a vastly different amount of water than another.

 

Especially in dry seasons, farmers need the best farm irrigation system they can find for their crops.

While we can’t control the water Mother Nature provides, we can give her a hand with precision equipment from a Cadman irrigation system.

 

What is irrigation?

 

By definition, irrigation is the mechanical application of water to plants. While irrigation systems can be as simple as a sprinkler on a lawn, farm irrigation systems can be huge and quite complex. They can deliver water at specific flow rates and times.

 

Summer growing seasons benefit from irrigation starting at germination through harvest to supplement lack of rain during draughts. Crops grown in dry climates require a constant, reliable irrigation system to compensate for the lack of rainfall. Some irrigation systems can also deliver nutrients to crops that need a little extra feeding.

 

How can over-irrigation damage the soil?

 

There’s no such thing as perfect irrigation. Some areas of your field will get more adequate water supply than others. However, a good quality irrigation system will greatly improve the proper distribution of water.

 

While parched soil can dehydrate your crops, over-irrigation is just as problematic. Too much water presents several issues:

  • Disrupts the oxygen balance in the root zone and decreases water uptake
  • Decreases soil pH, which makes the soil acidic and stunts crop growth
  • Encourages overgrowth of microbes, which can lead to infections
  • Leaches nitrogen and pesticides from soil and into the groundwater
  • Wastes water and energy
  • Contributes to excess weed growth
  • Displaces water already in the ground, leaving behind high concentrations of salt (salinization)

 

How Cadman makes irrigation simple

 

Precision and accuracy are key for proper irrigation. Cadman irrigation systems are designed to take the guesswork out of watering. They can be used anywhere that requires careful moisture control: sports fields, farm fields, home gardens, lawns, nurseries, landscaping, cemeteries, soil remediation projects, and more.

 

Cadman C-Series irrigation travellers are designed for larger operations and can cover up to 12 acres per pull. Cadman 1000-Series mini irrigation travellers are perfect for smaller applications. Cadman’s innovative computer-controlled mini machine with accurate speed compensation is the first of its kind.

 

All you do is pull out the hose, set the retrieve rate, engage the clutch, and you’re done. If you want an inch of water per minute, that’s what you’ll get.

 

Many irrigation problems result from damage to hoses due to weak materials and faulty reels. Cadman irrigation travellers have a rugged frame built from 2” x 2” heavy wall tubing matted with a 10-gauge skin for superior strength. The hose guide system keeps the hose in place, while the auto-stop immediately engages to prevent hose damage if there is any malfunction.

 

What are your irrigation needs?

 

Whether you have a big farm operation, small family farm, or football field to maintain, Cadman irrigation systems have you covered. Browse our inventory for high-quality new and used equipment. Or call us, and we’ll help you figure out what’s best for your irrigation needs.