Tag Archives: animal facility

1213–1219 F.A. Damasceno, J.L. Monge, J.A.C. Nascimento, R.R. Andrade, M. Barbari, J.A.O. Saraz and G.A.S. Ferraz
Estimate of manure present in compost dairy barn systems for sizing of manure storage
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Estimate of manure present in compost dairy barn systems for sizing of manure storage

F.A. Damasceno¹*, J.L. Monge², J.A.C. Nascimento¹, R.R. Andrade³, M. Barbari⁴, J.A.O. Saraz⁵ and G.A.S. Ferraz¹

¹Federal University of Lavras, Department of Engineering, BR37200-000 Lavras -Minas Gerais, Brazil
²Univeridad Nacional de Villa María, Institute of Basic and Applied Sciences, Agronomic Engineering, Córdoba, Argentina
³Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Agricultural Engineering, BR36570-000 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
⁴University of Florence, Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, Via San Bonaventura, 13, IT50145 Firenze, Italy
⁵Univeridad Nacional de Colombia, Agrarians Faculty, Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Medellin, Colombia
*Correspondence: flavio.damasceno@ufla.br

Abstract:

Milk production is increasingly modernized as a result of the growing demand for food around the world. Improvements in livestock facilities are observed, with a large increase in the use of feedlot systems such as the Compost Dairy Barn. Increasing milk production in confinement systems has also raised concerns such as the management of wastes (water, faeces and urine) from the system, which has become one of the most important issues in the intensive dairy farms. The aim of this work was to estimate the amount of manure present in compost dairy barn systems in order to size the manure storage. The study was conducted at four compost dairy barns in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. These compost barns had different bedding materials and dimensions. In each farm, data on milk yield and quality (daily production, fat and protein content), animal weight and amount of feed ingested by the animals were collected. Total-day manure delivered by the cows in the feeding alley and milking parlour was piled up together and weighed. Based on the results, it was observed that, in the compost dairy barns, only part of the total manure produced per day was delivered in the milking parlour (1.6 and 2.0%) and in the feed alley (27.6 to 49.3%). These results are very important for designers for the proper manure management system design of the dairy farms.

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689–698 R.R. Andrade, I.F.F. Tinôco, F.A. Damasceno, M. Barbari, D.A. Valente, M.O. Vilela, C.F. Souza, L. Conti and G. Rossi
Lighting and noise levels in compost dairy barns with natural and forced ventilation
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Lighting and noise levels in compost dairy barns with natural and forced ventilation

R.R. Andrade¹*, I.F.F. Tinôco¹, F.A. Damasceno², M. Barbari³*, D.A. Valente¹, M.O. Vilela¹, C.F. Souza¹, L. Conti³ and G. Rossi³

¹Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n Campus University of Viçosa, BR 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
²Federal University of Lavras, Department of Engineering, BR37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
³University of Florence, Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, Via San Bonaventura, 13, 50145 Firenze, Italy
*Correspondence: matteo.barbari@unifi.it, rafaella.andrade@ufv.br

Abstract:

The housing system, called compost barn, is attracting the interest of several farmers. It allows dairy cows to remain in free movement inside a shed without any containment partitions like those used in freestall barns. In Brazil the compost barns with open sides are very common, but recently some closed barns with climatic control systems have been implemented. The objective of this work was to evaluate and compare lighting and noise levels in an open compost barn with natural ventilation and in a closed compost barn with a climate control system. The latter one is based on tunnel ventilation: inlet of air trough evaporative cellulose panels and exit through fans placed on the opposite wall. Through analysis of the collected data it was observed that the sound pressure recorded inside both analysed buildings did not exceed the ranges of noise discomfort recommended for the rearing of animals. However, the sound pressure amplitude inside the barn with climate control system was greater than in the open barn. The light intensity was significantly lower in the closed barn when compared to the open barn (84.96 and 1,413.58 lx, respectively). The artificial lighting system distributed throughout the closed barn was not sufficient to maintain brightness within the recommended range for lactating cows. In addition, it was found that in the closed building with forced ventilation, the highest brightness values are located near the exhaust fans.

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2016–2028 V.C. Oliveira, F.A. Damasceno, C.E.A. Oliveira, P.F.P. Ferraz, G.A.S. Ferraz and J.A.O. Saraz
Compost-bedded pack barns in the state of Minas Gerais: architectural and technological characterization
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Compost-bedded pack barns in the state of Minas Gerais: architectural and technological characterization

V.C. Oliveira¹, F.A. Damasceno¹*, C.E.A. Oliveira¹, P.F.P. Ferraz¹, G.A.S. Ferraz¹ and J.A.O. Saraz²

¹Federal University of Lavras, Engineering Department, BR37200-000, Lavras - Minas Gerais, Brazil
²Univeridad Nacional de Colombia, Agrarians Faculty, Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Carrera 65 # 59A - 110, CO050001 Medellin, Colombia
*Correspondence: flavio.damasceno@ufla.br

Abstract:

Compost bedding pack (CBP) barns have been receiving increased attention as an alternative housing system for dairy cattle. Thus, a systematic investigation of the primary management practices of dairy cattle in CBP barns in the state of Minas Gerais (Brazil) has proven to be of environmental and economic relevance. The aim of this research was to summarize the compost bed data, barn dimension data and to determine the major interactive factors in the success of bed composting from qualitative and quantitative methods. Data for this study was collected from 16 CBP barns, distributed throughout the southern state of Minas Gerais (Brazil) between March 2017 and July 2018. These data were used to describe the building layouts and dimensions, to identify barn management practices, and to characterize the compost bedding material concerning moisture content. The majority of these barns had feed alleys and driveways; overshot ridges with frequent orientation from NE to SW; bedding process and aeration using mechanical tillage. The average bedding moisture content was found to be 36.9 ± 5.2% (w.b.). Based on the information found, it is possible to evaluate that there is still no defined construction pattern, with a high variation of size and technologies employed.

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