Survey of dairy housing and manure management practices in California

Abstract

In 2007, a descriptive survey was mailed to all dairies in Glenn (G) and Tulare (T) Counties to identify current and future opportunities of manure management practices on California dairies. The purpose was to provide baseline information for development of outreach curriculum and a decision support tool to quantify potential benefits of various N management options on dairy farms. Such baseline information is valuable to staff regulating dairy facilities (e.g., San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District and Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board), dairy trade association representatives, and technology vendors. Response rates for each county were similar at 29.7% (n=19; G) and 26.7% (n=88; T). Mean milking herd size averaged 570 (range 50 to 3,000) cows in G and 1,800 (range 196 to 9,286) cows in T. Survey data are reported by location due to differences between counties in herd size, housing facilities, and climate. Freestalls are common housing facilities (63.2%, G; 38.6%, T) and separated solids and corral scrapings are commonly used as bedding in freestalls (81.8% G and 79.4% T). The most common methods of manure collection were flushing and scraping (18.8%, G; 44.7%, T), only flushing (43.8%, G; 34.1%, T), or only scraping daily or less frequently than daily (37.5%, G; 20.0%, T). Most dairy farms in G (63.2%) and T (70.5%) used some method of separating solids from liquids. However, mechanical separation systems alone were used by 5.3% G and 11.4% T of dairy farms. Storage or treatment ponds were found on 95.9% of dairies. Respondents identified existing manure management practices and did not indicate any new technologies were in use or being considered for manure management. Survey results were used to describe the 2 predominant manure management pathways of manure collection, storage, treatment, and utilization. Survey results will be used to develop and disseminate targeted information on manure treatment technologies, and on-farm evaluation of implemented technologies related to anaerobic digesters, solid liquid separation, and pond additives.

A review of determinants for dairy farmer decision making on manure management strategies in high-income countries

“…In Pennsylvania, farms collecting solid manure mainly did so via bedded pack, while 84% of farms collecting slurry, semisolid or liquid manure employed scrape collection techniques (Dou et al 2001). However, in California, larger farms also used manure as bedding, but did so following collection of corral scrapings and/or processing to separate out solids and liquids (Meyer et al 2011). This contradiction exemplifies a theme in the literature; namely, that there can be substantial variability in manure collection methods across farm size and regions (Powell et al 2005, Sheppard et al 2011.…”

“…Aside from digester technology, another manure processing technique discussed widely in the literature is solid-liquid separation. Meyer et al concluded that dairy farms in California's Central Valley increased the use of solid-liquid separation from 54% in 1994 to up to 70% in 2007 (Meyer et al 2011). However, in Wisconsin, less than 17% of farms utilized manure separation technology, via either solid-liquid separation or sand separation (Aguirre-Villegas and Larson 2017).…”

“…Filson et al 2003, Sheppard et al 2011, Aguirre- Villegas and Larson 2017. The literature indicates that scrape and flush systems are the most common means of collecting slurry and liquid manures(Dou et al 2001, Meyer et al 2011, Aguirre-Villegas and Larson 2017. Bedded pack and gutter cleaners and other scrape systems were the most common collection methods mentioned for solid manure systems(Dou et al 2001, Filson et al 2003, Meyer et al 2011, Sheppard et al 2011, Aguirre-Villegas and Larson 2017.…”

The influence on biogas production of three slurry-handling systems in dairy farms

“…From a practical point of view, manure collection is strictly related to housing systems and bedding options. Conveyance cleaning systems like scraping, flushing-scraping and flushing are common in free stall sheds with solid floors, while in sheds with slatted floors manure is removed by gravity, and litter is manually renewed if present in resting areas (Meyer et al, 2011). Scrapers mechanically collect excreta preserving their characteristics, while flushing systems collects excreta hydraulically, diluting them.…”

Nutritional evaluation of butter prepared from fresh adulterants free cow milk

“…[3]. Exposure of butter and butter fat to high temperatures, light and air did not cause a marked change in the iodine numbers and this exposure did not cause rancidity [4].…”