2002 Annual Report
Extension and Outreach
Engineering Applications for Dairy Production Systems
Kevin Janni, Professor, Head, and
Extension Engineer
Larry Jacobson, Professor and Extension Engineer
David Schmidt, Assistant Extension Engineer
Objective
To develop educational materials and programs for dairy producers, consultants,
and processing industry personnel about profitable dairy housing, manure
management, and milking system alternatives.
Program Description
The dairy industry is undergoing unprecedented change. Many dairy producers
are remodeling existing or building new facilities and parlor systems
to make better use of labor and capital to improve profitability. Well-planned
facilities can also increase labor efficiency, family time and safety.
Extension programs are being developed and presented to provide technical
information to assist dairy producers who are planning new facilities
and remodeling existing buildings. Program topics include natural ventilation
for dairy barns, milking center ventilation, tunnel ventilation for stall
barns, dairy waste management, flat parlors as a transition strategy,
free-stall housing design and management, transition cow facilities, replacement
heifer housing, lighting systems, and cooling systems.
Outcomes
Many dairy producers are evaluating a range of business options including expanding, staying at their current size, and leaving dairying. The Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department is an important source of technical and design information for dairy producers. Workshops, seminars, publications, and one-on-one conversations are providing dairy consultants, veterinarians, and dairy producers with the latest planning, design, and management information. Several producers have installed flat parlors in their stall barns as a transitional milking system, built free-stall barns, and adopted labor-efficient feeding systems to permit herd expansion from 60 to 200 cows. Other producers are planning new free-stall facilities, milking centers, and waste collection and storage for new dairies ranging in size from 200 to 1,200 cows. Many are adopting extended day lighting, improving cow comfort, and enhancing indoor environmental quality to increase production.