Operating, Calibrating, and Maintaining Feed Handling Systems Lesson 8

Next Generation Science/Common Core Standards Addressed! n CCSS.ELA Literacy. RST.9 ‐ 10.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations or descriptions. n CCSS.ELA Literacy. RST.9 ‐ 10.7 Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words. n CCSS.ELA Literacy.RST.11 ‐ 12.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to important distinctions the author makes and to any gaps or inconsistencies in the account. n CCSS.ELA Literacy. RST.11 ‐ 12.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text n HSSIC.A.1 Understand statistics as a process for making inferences about population parameters based on a random sample from that population. (HS ‐ LS2 ‐ 6)

Bell Work / Student Learning Objectives 1 What Factors should you consider when building feeders in your shop class? 1 Describe the operation of feed handling systems. 2 Explain the calibration of feed handling systems. 3 Describe the maintenance of feed handling systems.

Terms n The following terms are presented in the lesson. n Forage n Palatability n Pneumatic n Roughage

Interest Approach n Who works for someone who has livestock or owns their on livestock? n Where does the feed for these animals come from? n What type of equipment is used to deliver feed to livestock? n Is there much maintenance with feed handling equipment?

Feeding Roughages! n Loose hay, bales and stacks, n Commonly fed in self- feeders or spread on ground, n Self feeding causes high feed losses often up to 50% n Trampling causes natural vegetation loss n Feed losses can be as low as % by controlling access

Feeding Silage, Haylage, Dry Chopped Hay n Most efficient with the use of a feeder (bunk) made of wood, concrete, steel, or rubber. n Feeders hold feed for storage and while it is eaten. They may also protect feed from the weather.

Fence line bunks n Located on side of a feedlot. n Filled with side unloader from a wagon or truck. n Can be filled without going into lot. n Requires twice as long bunk as a bunk that feeds from both sides.

Mechanical Bunks n Allows feeding from both sides of bunks. n Can be used to divide lots. n Reduces feeding time and labor by using mechanical power. n More expensive than fence line bunks. n Need to cover bunks to protect equipment. n Need a backup system in times of power outages.

Portable bunks n Allows feeding from both sides. n Mobile.

Feeding Energy & Protein Supplements n Examples –Corn –Cotton Seed meal/cake n Recommend these be fed in bunk or self-feeder. n Can be fed in the same bunk as the roughages.

Maintaining and buildingSelf- feeders & bunks! n Drainage holes need to be present to remove rainwater. n Drain holes can’t be to large or it will result if feed loss. n May be wood or metal structures.

Advantages of Self-feeders & bunks n Palatability –feed tastes good to the animal n feed with greatest palatability in eaten within 4 days n feed is offered free choice so animal can eat as much as it wants

Feed Centers n Provides for receiving, drying, storing, unloading, elevating, and conveying n provides also for processing grain and additives

Feed Processing n Involves grinding grain, weighing or metering ingredients, mixing ingredients, and delivery of feed

Batch Feed Processing n Involves weighing, grinding, and mixing individual ingredients in batches. n Usually not automatic, although some steps may be automated.

Portable grinder mixers n Versatile n Collect ingredients from several locations. n Process this feed in batches. n Grinding, mixing, and delivery are done by one machine.

Stationary mills with mixers n Offers good control over feed composition. n Wagon or truck delivers the completed feed to bulk tank or self-feeder. n pneumatic system –systems that convey by airstream

Stationary mills with mixers n Large swine operations, feed is delivered by high capacity pneumatic systems or by high capacity overhead conveyors. n Pneumatic systems are convenient but have high-energy requirements.

Feed handling systems n Designed to be efficient and convenient. n All steps in feed handling and processing operations require close monitoring.

Initial Settings n Rations require accuracy in metering, processing, grinding, and mixing ingredients. n Initial settings for equipment can be found using tables provided by equipment manufacturer.

Testing to insure quality n Send in samples to test that the feed contains proper quantities of nutrients and additives. n If feed is not ground sufficiently or ground too much, change the screen in the mill.

Dispensing Feed n Dispensing feed in bunks, effort and care must be taken to spread the material evenly throughout the entire bunk.

Feeder Settings n Daily observations can tell if the feeders are set properly. n Excess feed around feeder the setting is open to much. n If feed is completely cleaned up, not enough of an opening is present.

Objective #3 Describe the maintenance of feed handling systems. n How are feed handling systems maintained?

Feed handling systems n To function properly, proper maintenance of equipment must be followed. n Adequate and timely adjustments, repair, lubrication, protection from weather, and proper clean-up determine life of equipment.

Review n How are feed handling systems operated? n How are feed handling systems calibrated? n How are feed handling systems maintained?

The end!