Dairy Student Project ASM 363 Senior Design University of Missouri-Columbia

Presented by: Karen Funkenbusch National AgrAbility Conference November 12, 2003 Omaha, NE

ASM 363 Senior Design Students

Aaron Porter, Bart Korman, Chuck Stewart, and Devon Casady

Mentors

illard Downs, Karen Funkenbusch, Diana Baldwin, Steve Borgeldt, and Brad Marsh Willard Downs, Karen Funkenbusch, Diana Baldwin, Steve Borgeldt, and Brad Marsh

Executive Summary

This project is to bring light some problems and solutions to help access different areas of the diary farm.

The areas of concern include the milking parlor, farm equipment, and the general farmstead.

Student objective was to co-develop a plan that would safely and efficiently assist the operator to resume duties involved in the dairy operation.

Borman Dairy

A 370 acre family owned and operated enterprise located approximately 20 miles east of Columbia, Missouri near Hatton, once milked nearly 120 head of Holstein cows twice a day, everyday at 4:00am and 4:00pm.

Herringbone setup with a ten-cow capacity, five on each side of the room. The middle section of the room has a three-foot lower elevation to allow easy access to the cows by the operators.

The operators consist of Harlan, Judy, and their daughter Kate.

Equipment

John Deere 4440 John Deere 4440 New Holland Windrower New Holland Windrower Honda 300 Foreman ATV Honda 300 Foreman ATV

Case History

Mrs. Borman at the age of 57, experienced a spinal stoke. She was paralyzed from the waist down immediately after her stroke, resulting in a loss of control of her lower extremities. The result was L3 paraplegia.

After months of extensive therapy, Mrs. Borman has regained much of her former capabilities. She is eager to get back into the day- to-day operations of the farm.

Mrs. Borman is currently ambulatory using a standard walker and bilateral foot braces. Mrs. Borman requires assistance for balance and stability while walking or standing.

Mrs. Borman’s condition is non- progressive, meaning that a full recovery is not expected. However, her condition is not expected to digress under normal circumstances.

Problem Statement

The problem presented was that Mrs. Borman’s stroke hindered her ability to help in the milking process for fear of further injury.

This has forced the number of cows they can milk to decrease since the workload is now distributed among only two people.

Also, Mrs. Borman cannot easily access or work with all of the farm equipment and areas of the farm, which she would like.

Mrs. Borman cannot milk cows due to lack of stability with safety buffer zone between her and the cows.

Constraints

Impede other people’s participation Impede other people’s participation Alter the dairy process Alter the dairy process Significantly decrease existing space Significantly decrease existing space Any modifications to improve accessibility must not

Any modifications to improve accessibility must Maintain a relatively quiet noise level around the cattle Maintain a relatively quiet noise level around the cattle Maintain animal confinement at all times Maintain animal confinement at all times Operate in all weather conditions Operate in all weather conditions Be cost effective Be cost effective Be safe for everyone Be safe for everyone

Solutions

Stability While Milking Stability While Milking Mobility Between Milking Stations Mobility Between Milking Stations Mobility to the Milking Parlor Mobility to the Milking Parlor Dairy Barn Mobility

Step Assembly Step Assembly Platform Lift Platform Lift Purchase New Tractor Purchase New Tractor Equipment Accessibility: John Deere 4440

Hand Operated Shift Lever Hand Operated Shift Lever Upgrade to Honda Foreman 450ES Upgrade to Honda Foreman 450ES Equipment Accessibility: Honda 300 Foreman ATV

Step Assembly Step Assembly Equipment Accessibility: New Holland Windrower

Access to Farmstead Movement Through Gates Movement Through Gates Around the House Around the House Access into Milking Parlor Doors Access into Milking Parlor Doors Access From the House to Dairy Barn Access From the House to Dairy Barn

QUESTIONS??