Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
skid-steer loaders, mechanized litter removal machinery in broiler and turkey oper-
ations (Figure 8.6), and various scraping systems for manure and urine in dairy
operations (Figure 8.7). Laying hen operations use two different systems: a high-
rise house, in which feces drops through cage floors into a lower level where it is
periodically removed with manually operated tractors or skid-steer loaders, or more
recently, manure belt systems beneath each cage that are periodically operated to
transport feces to a conveyor at one end of a building and transfer to additional con-
veyors for transport to temporary storage. Swine are typically raised on slatted floor-
ing so that urine and feces fall into a pit beneath the building; the pit may be used as
FIGURE 8.6
Mechanized broiler chicken litter removal. The hardened pieces of litter are
removed, and the remaining drier material is reused. (Courtesy of Gates.)
FIGURE 8.7
Manure scraping system in free-stall dairy barn (http://www.dairymaster
.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=394&lang=us).
