September 2002

HAMRA Construction

The manure scraper is “clad” with rubber.

The manure scraper also has a safeguard. The slurry scraper is equipped with a De Laval cow safety system. The system controls and supervises the scraper – automatically stopping if it detects unfamiliar obstacles like an injured cow lying down.

The VMS has arrived and installation work can begin.

Once the cubicles have been mounted, the mats are put in place. Even the installers found the cow mats comfortable.

In mid-September, the new barn stood ready, beautifully designed to match the old houses at Hamra Farm.

The feeding station is supplemented with feeding cubicles and rubber mats. The cows are not disturbed by the scraper when eating and they stand on something soft for the 6-8 hours per day that they eat – something that spares the hooves.

The sides of the slurry channel have a 3% slope to allow the urine to pass quickly towards the urine separator. There will be less solids mixed with the urine this way and a reduction of ammonia. Studies in the Netherlands show that reduction can be as much as 50%.

The VMS facility is ready for its first herd.