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The simplest way to check feed volume is to climb up and look inside. Not anyone's favorite chore, wet or icy ladders can make this dangerous and at best it is an educated guess. 

Bin Flag level indicator mounts on the outside of a bin rotating to yellow when feed level drops below postition.

Level indicators, like the Bin Flag, give a visual alert when the feed drops below a certain point in the bin. They are inexpensive and can connect to an alarm system to send a remote warning. They do not record feed input or usage like a bin weighting system.  

Early attempts at adding load cells to bins had mixed results. Because the load cells were expensive, many systems were set up with load cells on half of the bin legs, or they used I-beams to span between two legs.   Inaccurate readings resulted when feed bridging caused one side of the bin to feed out faster than the other side.   At best, these early systems were 80% accurate and really were more of an expensive early warning system for feed outages than a serious feed management tool.  

The current generation of bin weighting systems gives producers the tools for accurate feed management.

BinTrac® offers a dedicated bin weighing system with a unique load cell assembly in which the bracket functions as the lifting mechanism.   This type of bracket assembly requires less than 1/2" of lift to install, requires no shimming or blocking and can be installed on existing and loaded bins.  

On each bin, the smart summing box gathers input from each load cell and sends it to the BinTrac Pro indicator control than can be located up to 250 feet from the bin. The BinTrac Pro Indicator displays information from up to four bins with a visual bar graph level indicator and digital readout of current weight, 24-hour feed usage, and recent fill weights.  

Load Cell and Summing Box mounted on a bin. BinTrac Pro Indicator.

By adding a HouseLINK™ module, this information is readily interfaced with the ventilation house controller. Options are also available to collect this data remotely via a wireless LAN system to record current inventories and monitor usage to predict and coordinate feed schedules.      

The Maximus® control system provides accurate feed management as a function of their whole house controller.  

Load cells mounted on bin legs send information to a junction box, which in turn transmits, to an individual relay box located inside the building. The relay boxes, representing each bin, are wired in series to the Maximus controller.  

The Maximus controller logs and displays the primary data on a Bin Overview screen (Fig.1) showing Feed Remaining, Amount of Feed Consumed in the last 24 hours, and Feed Consumed per head.   From there, the operator can drill down to an individual bin screen (Fig.2) to view greater detail. In this screen, the operator can also set various warning levels to trigger feed outage alarms by text or email.  

A new product scheduled for release later this year is an automated feed slide that can be configured to close a slide as one bin empties and automatically open the slide on a second bin. Bin slides can also be remotely opened from inside a building, eliminating the need for a farm manager to go outside and risk compromising biosecurity.  

Like all the functions controlled by the Maximus system, this feed data can be viewed and adjusted remotely from a smartphone, tablet or computer. The operator can also schedule personalized reports to be sent by email to other members of the production team.

Using LED style lighting reduces electrical usage by 75-80% compared to incandescent bulbs and 50-60% over spiral CFLs. In most situations, the financial payback period will be between one to two years.  

While all LED lights will achieve this expected energy savings, Once, Inc. offers their AgriShift Dim-to-Calm™ system specifically designed for use in swine facilities.  

Domestic swine were developed from wild boar species, which occupy shaded habitats and are most active at dawn and dusk. This fact suggests that swine have a visual system that is best adapted to dim light rather than the bright light of mid-day or darkness of nocturnal light.  

While humans see light primarily in the green and yellow spectrums, swine’s highest sensitivity is focused on the blue and green parts of the scale with little recognition of red shades. In other words, pigs perceive red lighting as darkness.

Dim-To-Calm lighting mimics sunrise to sunset photoperiods

Photoperiod requirements have not been well studied in swine, but it is evident a cyclical light: dark cycle should be provided. At all stages of production, swine benefit from at least eight hours of light and at least eight hours of darkness. The transition from light to dark periods should be gradual, much like natural sunrise and sunset, to reduce stress caused by sudden changes in light.  

AgriShift Dim-to-Calm LED technology provides producers a method to automatically control light intensity, color spectrum and photoperiod length for swine specific lighting. The dimming capability simulates a sunrise to sunset scheme and is regulated through the house controller by use of a slave dimmer or by an AgriShift master control. Additionally, the shifted spectrum provides a service light (red color) that allows workers to have continual access to the facility after hours without disturbing or interrupting the sleep cycles of the pigs. Some producers have also utilized an additional period of light at night during hot weather. By setting up a shorter sunrise to sunset sequence during the cooler evening hours, they can encourage finishing pigs to consume more feed.

10 watt LED fixture with slave dimmer

The AgriShift LED lights are 10-watt jelly jar type fixtures with output equal to a 75-watt incandescent. It's an innovative design with the minimal heat of LEDs allowing the use of a low-profile plastic jar measuring only 2” compared to a typical 5"-7" long jelly jar. Replacement is simple with the provided Edison pigtail connector screwing into the existing light socket, twisting the jelly jar adapter in place and connecting the base lamp to complete the installation. The expected life of the bulb is 50,000 hours and is backed by Once's 5-year replacement warranty.  

Many of the chemical products used in poultry and swine production are delivered through the water system.   Some simple best practices will keep your water-driven, volumetric proportioner, or as it more commonly called a medicator, in good working order.

1.Use a mixing device in the stock tank...and that doesn't mean a paint stick! 
Many of these products don't mix well in stock tanks and are difficult to keep in suspension. A small (1/200 hp.) agitation pump does a great job of keeping solids in suspension, is inexpensive to operate and is relatively low-cost at around $60. Maintaining a homogenous mixture in the chemical stock tanks aids in accurate chemical delivery.

2.Flush with clean water...from a clean bucket.  
After you finish injecting a product, take the hose out of the stock tank and let the medicator pull water from a clean 5-gallon bucket. The fresh water will flush any chemical residue from the seals and springs. Cleaning the system also prevents any problems with leftover chemical reacting with the next product used in the system.   3."Click-Clack" doesn't mean it's working... replace the seals.  
While it is easy to diagnose a broken spring or diaphragm when you don't hear the familiar "click-clack," a medicator will continue to operate with damaged seals. Harsh chemicals can weaken or damage the rubber seals over time, allowing the stock solution to leak causing inaccurate dosing rates.   To maintaining accurate chemical delivery, replace the rubber seals annually. There are replacement seals kits available for every brand of medicator on the market. It takes less than 15 minutes to do and the cost for most kits is under $20.

While you're at it... clean the inside too.
As long as you are taking the medicator apart, disassemble the entire medicator as far as you feel comfortable doing and soak the parts in soapy water to remove chemical or mineral deposits.  Let the part soak for 24-48, rinse and reassemble.  To remove a heavy mineral buildup, consider using a 50% vinegar soultion or CLR to soak the parts.  Check with the equipment manufacturer before using.

5.Check the suction hose...it works like a straw. 
A cracked or broken suction tube permits air to enter the system ruining accuracy. It's a good idea to periodically snip off the top part of the hose and reattach it to the medicator hose barb to prevent leaks.

These are general recommendations for the most commonly used chemicals.   Some chemical formulations may require more frequent maintenance and cleaning of medicator pumps for proper dosing rates.

A low-pressure sprinkler system should not be confused with the standard fogging systems. While fogging systems deliver a fine mist, low-pressure sprinklers produce a larger water droplet that does not hang in the air but drops straight to the floor. As the droplets hit the birds, they are stimulated to stand up and migrate to feed and water.

The settings in the controller can be configured to match any management scheme by varying the starting and ending set points for dates, times and temperatures in both cooling and activity modes. The following is an example of a typical operating sequence. 

Sprinkling encourages bird migration to feed and water

As the building temperature increases and the building goes into tunnel mode, the sprinkler system begins to activate its first stage setting at 2 degrees above set point.   The system runs for 10 seconds every 30 minutes. The birds react by standing and releasing the heat trapped under their bodies, which is removed by the ventilation system.  

In the second stage, the sprinkler system increases output at five degrees above set point by operating for 20 seconds every 15 minutes. The trapped heat is released more often as the bird's activity increases and the additional sprinkling begins to create some evaporative cooling on the birds.  

At eight degrees above tunnel mode, the sprinkler control enters into its third stage increasing to 20 seconds every seven minutes. Wind speed should be at least 600 feet per minute, creating wind chill and evaporative cooling on the birds minimizing any felt heat stress.

GrowerSELECT control with sprinkler head assemblies

If outside temperatures continue to rise and the barn controller activates the evaporative cooling system, the sprinkler system will drop back to either stage two or three.   The large water droplets hitting the birds continue to stimulate their activity, encouraging frequent migration to the feeders and waterers.  

Increasing the evaporating cooling set point to 12 degrees above when the tunnel doors are activated may save up to 80% of the water normally used during the initial cooling stages.  

The building is also operating at a low humidity level allowing the birds to more efficiently cool themselves through natural respiration.  

Producers may also see increased cool cell pad life, as the system will operate less frequently allowing more time for the pad to dry between cycles.

Georgia Poultry booth at 2017 IPPE show

Georgia Poultry highlighted two new products, scheduled for release later this spring, at this year's show in Atlanta.

Classic Flood Light Kit illuminates control pan to encourage bird activity.

The Classic Flood Light Kit provides supplemental light to attract birds to the end control pan. The elevated activity level increases feed line run time to keep the feeders full, particularly when starting a new flock.

The Classic Flood Light Kit installs under the control unit directly projecting light into the feed pan below. This arrangement eliminates the shadows common with other add-on kits that mount on top or to the side of a control unit.

Six, long-lasting LED lights.

The mounting plate features six; long-lasting LED lights separated into two banks on either side of the feed pan. The kit can be installed on any existing Classic Flood control pan and is hardwired directly into the control unit. This integration into the control unit removes the need for additional power cords or outlets.

GrowerSELECT sprinkler control with drop assemblies.

The GrowerSELECT Sprinkler System offers producers a system to increase bird activity for improved weight gain and more efficient heat removal.  

The system turns on at short preset intervals sprinkling the birds with large water droplets.   As the droplets hit the birds, they stand and release captured heat underneath allowing ventilation airflow to remove it from the building.  

This elevated activity also causes the birds to migrate to the feeders and waterers promoting increased weight gain and improved feed conversion.  

Low pressure (50 psi), rotating sprinkler assemblies cover approximately 450 square feet each and are available in different drop lengths to match varying building configurations.  

The HSWS-01 control unit automatically increases the run time and frequency of the system operation to cope with increasing heat stress as the building temperature increases.  

Look for more information on these new products on our blog, website, and Facebook page later this spring.

Hog Slat bins feature the industry's heaviest galvanized coating.

Steel corrosion, commonly referred to as rust, is an oxidization process occurring when iron in steel is exposed to oxygen and water. Rust causes steel to thin over time, reducing its strength and causing product failure.

Paint coating protects steel from elements until damaged.

Any coating, which provides a barrier to moisture and oxygen, protects steel from corrosion. A painted surface provides an effective barrier until it is broken allowing moisture and oxygen to come in contact with the steel beneath. Rust develops at the breakage point and can even extend under the protective paint barrier.

Galvanized coatings protect steel even when damaged.

Similar to paint, a galvanized coating forms a protective barrier to protect steel from moisture and oxygen. Galvanized coatings also provide a second method of protecting steel by electrochemically "sacrificing" the zinc in the present of corrosive elements.   In other words, the zinc corrodes, until it is depleted, instead of the metal underneath. Because it is physically bonded to the metal, galvanized coating does not allow rust to extend beneath its surface.

Heavier G100 galvanized coatings offer 10% longer service life.

Galvanized coatings are expressed in ounces per square ft with conventional coatings designated as G30, G40, G60, and G90. These refer to thickness of .30, .40, .60 and 90 oz./ft², respectively. Corrosion resistance is directly proportionate to the amount of zinc coating on the steel. Therefore we would expect the service life of G90 steel to be roughly three times that of G30 in the same environment. Likewise, increasing the galvanized coating on a feed bin from G90 to G100 increases the bin's service life by 10%.

Galvanized steel is an excellent choice for use in feed bin fabrication, as it does not degrade when exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays like painted coatings or poly bins.

In addition to heavier galvanized coatings, Hog Slat bins are manufactured from stronger Grade 55 steel, come with an improved ladder design and water deflecting Weather Edge™. Every bin is backed by an extended 5-year warranty. To see more go to Bulk Feed Bins.  

By Austin Baker
Ventilation Director, Hog Slat Inc.

WindStorm 54" fans

As the industry continues to increase wind speeds in broiler houses, we need to be mindful of maintaining a balance in a tunnel ventilation system.   A ventilation system operating at a high static pressure does not necessarily mean it is optimized for wind speed.

I was recently called on to troubleshoot the ventilation system on a new broiler farm. The owner was concerned because the static pressure in the new buildings was running between .10" and .14" while the static pressure in several older buildings of similar size was closer .20" - .22”. He suspected the fans in the newer buildings might not be operating correctly and not delivering their maximum ventilation rates.

Inexpensive WeatherFlow wind meter for smartphones

We selected a spot 50' in front of first tunnel fan and recorded a reading of 715 fpm with a static pressure of .22" in the older facility. In the new building recordings from a similar location registered 805 fpm with a static pressure of only .14”. In other words, the new house was operating with a lower static pressure but still delivering almost 100 fpm higher wind speed.

In fact, we were able to increase wind speed and reduce the static pressure in the older house by shutting off two fans. The static pressure went down to .12", and the wind speed accelerated to 770 fpm.

Tego Tunnel Doors

Here's a simple test to perform in any house to find the balance point. Put the house in full tunnel mode and pick a spot 50’ in front of your fans to measure wind speed. Take a measurement with all fans running and then turn off a fan. Go back to the original measuring point and take another reading. If the wind speed went down then, the system is operating correctly. If it stayed the same or went up, then continue the process until you see a drop in airspeed. This exercise will tell you if you need to take action to correct the restrictions on the system. For example, cool cell pads may be clogged or not sized correctly, or the tunnel doors are restricting the airflow.

By Paul Horne
Gas-Fired Products Inc.

Radiant heat has gained wide acceptance across the industry for heating the brooder area of poultry houses.   Because radiant heat delivers heating energy directly to the birds and floor, radiant offers significant advantages compared to forced air heat including; 15-25% more efficiency, drier litter, and creating a heat-storing thermal reservoir for the birds at floor level.

An additional benefit is the varying temperature gradients allowing the birds to seek their particular comfort zone. Temperature distribution graphs represent the heat profiles for each radiant heating product. Knowing the expected heating pattern for each style of radiant heater helps producers choose the best product for their particular application.

In the following diagrams, we show typical layouts for a 66' x 300' center brooder area for each type of radiant heaters. These are general layouts and not unique to a particular building design or geographical area. Each facility requires a heat loss calculation to determine the actual Btu/hr. needed.

Heating pattern for GRO40 brooder

40,000 BTU brooders with a round canopy project an even, circular heat pattern on the surface below. The emitter extending below the canopy reduces center hot spots and increases the overall diameter of the heat pattern.

Brooders normally have the lowest initial cost and offer a broad range of equipment options, including direct spark or pilot ignition systems which can be controlled individually or in zones. Installation is straightforward and flexible, allowing for multiple floor layouts. Brooders can be winched to different heights during the flock to change the heat pattern. Stainless brooders offer added corrosion protection for houses using litter treatments. It is important to thoroughly clean brooders after each flock to maintain optimal efficiency.

Heating pattern for GROTube

Straight radiant tube brooding systems deliver a large pear-shaped heat profile with the highest floor temperatures located directly under the first tube and with lower temperatures at the far end. Typical tube lengths range between 30 ft.-60 ft. long with heating capacities ranging between 100,000 to 150,000 Btu/hr.

Straight tube heaters are mounted near the ceiling and are not raised and lowered like radiant brooders. Each model has a recommend mounting distance from the ceiling based on clearance to combustibles. Because straight tube heaters draw fresh air from outside the brood chamber, there is less maintenance than systems that bring their combustion air from inside the house.

Tube heaters have the advantage that they can be either a single stage or a two-stage unit, where the low fire will result in a different and smaller heat pattern.

Heating profile of Big Foot heaters

Another radiant product type is the U-Tube heater, which offers an improved rectangular heat pattern when compared with the straight tube heaters. Because the heat inputs are lower, the hot spot under the burner is less intense than with the larger heat input straight tube heaters. Angling the reflectors towards the building sidewalls results in extended heating footprint. Sizes range from 12 ft. to 15 ft.long rated at 60,000 – 90,000 Btu/hr.

U-Tube heaters share the same advantages and disadvantages common to all tube heaters; higher installation costs along with the convenience of being mounted up out of the way and reduced maintenance.

Their biggest advantage lies in the improved heat patterns. The heat patterns are larger with a more rectangular shape than brooders and more even temperature distribution than straight tube heaters. The rectangular heating profile of U-Tube heaters provides uniform heat distribution throughout the brood area. Chicks can easily move in and out of the temperature gradations seeking their individual comfort zones.

When a local FFA chapter asked for industry support, Georgia Poultry's Heath Whiddon jumped at the chance. Heath explained, " My involvement in FFA throughout my middle school and high school year shaped my career path in animal agricultural. After graduating from UGA, I worked for Perdue Farms before joining Georgia Poultry as outside sales rep."

Heath and kids examine 4-hole nest used in chapter project

Clifton Ridge Middle School in Macon, GA recently started an FFA chapter and chose as their SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) a project involving laying hens. Local Perdue Farms Director of Operations, Wally Hunter and live production manager, Tim Little alerted Heath about the project and joined with Georgia Poultry in supplying the school with a 4-hole and 10-hole nest.

FFA advisor, Rick Burrell looks on as Heath highlights nest features.  

Heath bought the nests to Clifton Ridge and met with the students and FFA advisor, Rick Burrell. " I assembled the 4-hole to show the kids so they could build the 10-hole unit on their own, "said Heath. " I took a few minutes and explained how vertical integration worked and answered the questions from the kids. They were especially interested in how my FFA involvement helped my career in the poultry industry.... and they also wanted to know what farmers did with the chicken litter." Heath continued, "Getting kids involved is critical to the future of our industry. I was glad for the opportunity to help out, and hopefully, we see some of the kids enter the poultry business down the road."

Clifton Ridge hens adapt to new nests  

The project currently involves 12 laying hens of different breeds with the students offering eggs for sale to the school faculty and district personnel.