Tag Archives: farm

1090–1098 V. Vtoryi, S. Vtoryi and V. Gordeev
Hydrogen sulfide emissions from cattle manure: experimental study
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Hydrogen sulfide emissions from cattle manure: experimental study

V. Vtoryi*, S. Vtoryi and V. Gordeev

Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution ‘Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM’, Filtrovskoje shosse, 3 p.o. Tiarlevo, Saint Petersburg, RU196625, Russia
*Correspondence: vvtoryj@yandex.ru

Abstract:

Animal waste products, manure, in particular, are the sources of gases harmful to human and animal health. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is produced from the breakdown of organic matter in animal faeces, is one of them. Its concentration in the cow barn air should not exceed 5 mg m−3. A special laboratory setup was designed and the level of hydrogen sulfide emissions from the cow manure was determined depending on the time and manure temperature and moisture content. The most intensive emission of hydrogen sulfide from manure was in the first 24 hours – the increment of H2S concentration was 0.168 mg m−3 per hour average. During the next 24 hours, it was 0.021 mg m−3 per hour. When the manure temperature increased, H2S concentration increased also; when the temperature manure decreased, H2S concentration decreased also. In 48 hours, the hydrogen sulfide concentration was 1.1 mg m−3 at the manure temperature of +3.0 °C. At the manure temperature of +23.4 °C and 21.3 °C, H2S concentration was 6.53 mg m−3 and 4.97 mg m−3, respectively. The higher was the manure moisture content, the lower was the emission of hydrogen sulfide into the environment. After 24 hours under the manure moisture content of 88.5% and 92.5% and its temperature of 21 °С ± 0.3 °С, the difference in the hydrogen sulfide concentration was 1.18 times depending on the manure moisture content. The selected regression equations described the dependence of the hydrogen sulfide concentration on the considered factors. The determination coefficients and Student’s criteria proved the reliability of the results obtained at the significance level P ≤ 0.05.

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324–345 K. Andersson, J. Eklund and A. Rydberg
Lean-inspired development work in agriculture: Implications for the work environment
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Lean-inspired development work in agriculture: Implications for the work environment

K. Andersson¹²³*, J. Eklund¹³ and A. Rydberg²

¹KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, Division of Ergonomics, Hälsovägen 11C, SE-141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
²RISE - Research Institutes of Sweden, Division of Bioeconomy and Health, Agriculture and Food, Box 7033, SE-750 50 Uppsala, Sweden
³HELIX - Competence Centre, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
*Correspondence: karin.andersson@ri.se

Abstract:

Farmers operate in a turbulent environment that includes international competition, weather conditions and animal behaviour, for example, and is difficult for them to control. However, economy and productivity always have a high priority. As a consequence, farms have started to implement lean-inspired work systems. At the same time, health and safety are of urgent concern in the sector. This article explores how famers apply lean-inspired work processes. It identifies work environment changes during and after a lean implementation, as well as possible developments in the work environment following implementation of the lean philosophy. Data were collected from three groups: lean, lean-light and development-inclined reference farms (in total 54 farms), using a questionnaire and interviews. The results indicate that a majority of the lean farms were applying several lean principles and tools, and the lean philosophy. The lean-light farms applied parts of the lean concept, while the reference farms applied some of the more general tools, used in lean and elsewhere, such as visualisation in various forms and to various extents. The results showed positive effects of lean on the psychosocial work environment, better work structure and improved information, communication and co-operation. The physical work environment was improved to some extent by lean, where advantages such as a more structured and practical work environment with less physical movements and locomotion could be noticed. The lean concept provided a more structured and systematic approach to dealing with work and production environmental issues, for managers as well as for employees.

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1969–1983 E. Merisalu J. Leppälä, M. Jakob and R.H. Rautiainen
Variation in Eurostat and national statistics of accidents in agriculture
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Variation in Eurostat and national statistics of accidents in agriculture

E. Merisalu¹* J. Leppälä², M. Jakob³ and R.H. Rautiainen²⁴

¹Estonian University of Life Sciences, Fr.R. Kreutzwaldi 56/1, EE51006 Tartu, Estonia
²Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki
³Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, Max-Eyth-Allee 100, DE14469 Potsdam, Germany
⁴University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, US68198-4388, USA
*Correspondence: eda.merisalu@emu.ee

Abstract:

Agriculture is known as a hazardous industry worldwide, although there are great challenges in enumerating the size of the workforce and numbers of accidents at work. The aim of the study was to characterize variation in agricultural accident statistics in European countries and opportunities to improve collection and reporting of accident data in agriculture on the national and European levels. This study explored the incidence of fatal (FA) and non-fatal work accidents (NFA) in agriculture (excluding forestry and fishing) in selected European countries, using Eurostat and national sources in 2013. Eurostat reported highest NFA rates (per 100,000 workers) in Finland (5331) and lowest in Greece (5). The highest FA rate was reported in Malta (51), while zero fatalities were reported in Estonia, Greece, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Sweden and Iceland. Eurostat and national statistics differed in many cases. Some variations were observed in European and national statistics. Germany reported 89 fatalities (rate 2.3/100,000) in Eurostat and 160 (rate 16.3/100,000) in national sources. Poland, with a similar land area and five times more farms and workers as Germany, reported only 4 fatalities in agriculture in Eurostat. The Estonian Labour Inspectorate (2013) registered 785 NFAs per 100,000 agricultural workers, while the rate in Eurostat was more than twice as high (1914/100,000). Finland and Sweden with similar agricultural structures had a ten-fold difference in NFA rates in Eurostat; Finland 5,331 and Sweden 554 per 100,000 workers. These examples illustrate the large variation in agricultural accident statistics due to: a) farm structure, b) use of reference populations, c) under-reporting, d) different inclusion/exclusion criteria and e) interpretation by users. Some inconsistencies are structural due to lacking social insurance schemes for farmers, family labour and undocumented workers. Some inconsistencies could be addressed by better implementation of ESAW harmonizing rules. Alternative methods, such as standardized surveys, could be considered to augment Eurostat statistics.

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1694-1701 O. Sada, A. Leola and P. Kic
Choosing and evaluation of milking parlours for dairy farms in Estonia
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Choosing and evaluation of milking parlours for dairy farms in Estonia

O. Sada¹*, A. Leola¹ and P. Kic²

¹Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Tecnology, Department of Husbandry Engineering and Ergonomics, Fr.R.Kreutzwaldi 56, EE51014 Tartu, Estonia
²Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Technological Equipment of Buildings, Kamycka 129, CZ16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
*Correspondence: oliver.sada@emu.ee

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to present the main criteria, which could be used for the choosing, optimization and evaluation of a milking parlour in two large capacity Estonian dairy farms. The choosing and evaluation of milking parlours parameters is based on the available information and results of previous research in dairy farms in the Estonia, using the mathematical model created in the Czech Republic. Time for milking and final specific direct costs are main parameters which enable evaluation and choosing of suitable milking parlour for the dairy farm. Calculation of the first farm with a capacity of 300 cows showed that in the case of rotary milking parlour with 32 milking stalls total specific direct costs per milking per cow and year would be by 25% higher than in the case of Side by Side milking parlour 2 x 12, but the time for milking would be reduced by about 25%. The second farm with capacity of 1,850 cows is equipped with a rotary milking parlour with 70 milking stalls. There are three milkers. Six milkers would bring shortening of one milking from 6.3 h to 3.3 h while preserving approximately the same total specific direct costs per milking per cow and per year. This milking parlour could be used also for the planned increase in capacity at farm to 3,300 cows. Time of one milking would be 5.6 hours, but total specific direct costs per milking per cow and per year would be reduced by 18%.

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39-48 J. Frorip, E. Kokin, J. Praks, V. Poikalainen, A. Ruus, I. Veermäe, L.Lepasalu, W. Schäfer, H. Mikkola, J. Ahokas
Energy consumption in animal production – case farm study
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Energy consumption in animal production – case farm study

J. Frorip¹, E. Kokin¹, J. Praks¹, V. Poikalainen¹, A. Ruus¹, I. Veermäe¹, L.Lepasalu¹, W. Schäfer², H. Mikkola³, J. Ahokas³

¹Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, EE51014, Tartu, Estonia;
e-mail: juri@monte.ee
²MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Agricultural Engineering Research
(MTT/VAKOLA), Vakolantie 55, FI-03400 Vihti, Uusimaa, Finland;
e-mail: winfried.schafer@mtt.fi
³Department of Agrotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 28 (Koetilantie 3),
FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland;
e-mail: Jukka.ahokas@helsinki.fi; hannu.j.mikkola@helsinki.fi

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to analyse the energy use by the dairy case-farm with un-insulated cowsheds in Estonia for the period of 2009-2010. The energy balance calculation includes the direct energy input of fuel, lubricants and electricity and the indirect input of forage, cereals, concentrates for young stock, dairy cattle and buildings. Energy outputs are milk, meat, and manure. The energy values were calculated multiplying the quantities of inputs and outputs by their energy conversion factors. The quantitative parameters of the inputs and outputs are based on book-keeping data, the energy conversion factors of feed were measured. The energy output-input ratio of the case-farm was 1.88 in 2009 and 1.85 in 2010. Energy input of milk was 5.4 and 5.3 per MJ kg-1, respectively. Our study indicated that the case farm energy consumption is generally higher than that of comparable European dairy farms. The further research is needed to find the reason of mentioned differences.

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