Veal calf barn renovation

Renovating a veal calf barn – converting from single pens to groups of 9 calves per pen.

Calves are also fed roughage as well as milk replacer and have 24/7 access to water.

Stainless steel feeding troughs - Group housing

Group housing

slatted woden floor - calf group housing

calf group housing

Group housing

slatted flooring calf group housing

ventilation controls

Scraper system motor

Scraper system

renovation

David Hamm working on renovation

Hunter guarding B Barn

The original barn is taken down to it primary structure, conscious to save or reuse as much existing materials as possible.

Whenever pertinent, recycled materials are used.
Remaining structures are power washed to remove all dirt and contaminants
All old insulation is removed and new environmentally friendly insulation is installed
New cement flooring poured with radiant heating tubes installed in central hallway
The heat is supplied f rom biogas generators ( using calf manure – converted to methane as fuel ) to eliminate fossil fuel costs.
Automated manure removal scraper cable system is installed.
Lighting in halls is through large windows and passive solar light tubes to reduce electricity consumption.
New cement flooring poured with radiant heating tubes installed in central hallway (under boxes)
Automated manure removal scraper cable system is installed

All interior walls are rebuilt and clad with recycled plastic sheeting. (Polyboard)
Exterior walls are removed and are replaced with board and batten siding.
The small windows are replaced with large bay windows to maximize daylight conditions, augment solar light tubes and enhance daylight quality.
Manure scraper control system installed. Scrapers remove manure automatically every day.
Main room scraper moves material to a secondary scraper that provides feed-stocks to the biogas system.

Flooring is installed – a slat format is used to facilitate ease of flow of manure to scrapers below
Stainless steel floor strips are added to improve animal traction.
Stainless steel pens are install with gating system to minimize stress will when moving animals.
Automated fans installed on sides of bay windows.
Each room’s environment is monitored by five in-room probes and two exterior to manage constant safe, heat, humidity and airflow conditions.
High humidity is controlled by radiant heating in centre aisle floor.
Control system automatically controls air inflow vents and the energy efficient ventilation fans.
All in room environmental information is saved as part of traceability data gathering.

Feed troughs are stainless steel with water supply installed that is monitored for traceability.
Feed ( milk replacer) is piped in from the central kitchen and measured through technician handheld nozzle.
All electrical wiring is installed in non-corrosive piping to increase barn safety
LED lights reduce electrical costs by 75% and are dim-able to maintain constant daylight conditions.
All doorways are lined with stainless steel shielding to protect staff and animals.

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