Okay I admit it…it has been awhile since we’ve posted a blog. But I have an excuse….. We’ve been working on some new ad campaigns and new swine and poultry catalogs (which you can request a copy of at http://www.hogslat.biz/Request_Catalog.asp ). But now we are back…….. last blog was about the Bin Flag and at the end we mentioned a way to connect it to a phone alarm dialer.

When you pair the Bin Flag with an alarm phone dialer you will receive a phone alarm whenever feed levels drop below the critical level.  Setting the Bin Flag up with most alarm systems is a pretty simple process.   Purchase the magnetic sensor for less than $20 (item #HDL59065-952) and screw it into the Bin Flag.  You then run common phone wire from the sensor to a contact on the phone dialer.   The alarm system will allow you to program a unique message that identifies each  particular bin.

Really I’m not so sure this isn’t a more important feature than the visual part of the Bin Flag…… normally you have to be at the building site and look at the Bin Flag.  But with the Bin Flag connected to an alarm it calls you.  So whether you are in the field, on the road, wherever you have cell service you will be notified when a feed outage occurs and have to time to react and get feed ordered.

You can learn more about setting up the Bin Flag with the Sensaphone and Agri-Alert alarm systems by going to our website and looking up MANUALS or clicking on this link http://www.hogslat.biz/installation_manuals.asp.    Select either and it will take you through detailed steps on programming the dialers.

Numerous studies have shown that high ammonia levels in a swine or poultry housing will have detrimental effects on growth rates.  Low levels of ammonia exposure irritate the animal’s respiratory system causing reduced resistance to infections.   Recent recommendations for swine call for long term exposure that does not exceed 20 ppm.  Ammonia is considered the most harmful gas in broiler chickens and suggested levels should be less than 25 ppm and should not exceed 50 ppm.

Effective strategies to control ammonia include increasing ventilation rates and controlling manure admissions by treating poultry litter with amendments and using odor reducing products in swine pits.  But to be truly effective it is necessary to measure current ammonia levels and any reduced levels resulting from treatments. Although high levels of ammonia are detectable by humans upon entering the animal space, levels below the 50 ppm cannot be reliability judged without some type of monitoring equipment.   Typical ammonia checking devices are expensive and require frequent recalibrations.

Hog Slat and Georgia Poultry is now offering a simple, inexpensive device to test ammonia levels in swine and poultry buildings named HAM (Hog Slat Ammonia Monitor).  This easy-to-use testing strip features an imbedded colorimetric indicator which changes color from yellow to blue to measure average ammonia levels present.  Just hang the strip at animal level for between 4 – 24 hours and read the simple chart to identify the average PPM levels for that time period.

Using the Ammonia Monitor is straightforward.  Use a large binder clip with a string attached from the ceiling to hang the monitor just above bird height in poultry houses.   For swine buildings hang the monitor at pig level in the alleys where they can’t reach it.   Record on the top of the strip the DATE; TIME PLACED and HOUSE # before placing.

After allowing the Ammonia Monitor to remain in the building for 4 to 24 hours, mark where the color change becomes solid blue on the colorimetric indicator with a fine felt tip pen.    After that record TIME REMOVED and TOTAL HOURS.  In this example the color line indicator is marked at 11 in 16 hours of time in the building.

Next, on the back of the Monitor, find the total hours and read down the column until you find the indicator number from the front.  Read across the line to the left and this is the average ammonia level in the barn.  In our example the reading was 11; taking the line between the 9 and 13 across to the left side we get a reading in the middle of 10 to 20 ppm or around 15 ppm.

As noted above recent recommendations for swine call for long term exposure that does not exceed 20 ppm. Ammonia is considered the most harmful gas in broiler chickens and suggested levels are less than 25 ppm and should never exceed 50 ppm.  Readings above these levels would suggest producers would need to increase ventilation rates and/or control manure admissions by treating poultry litter with PLT or Poultry Guard.  Swine producers should consider using pit treatments such as MircoPT or ASI Pit Hammer.

The Ammonia Monitors are individually sealed in plastic and are conveniently packaged 5 to a unit and cost only $18.95.

Please note that the Ammonia Monitor will not function correctly if cut in two as the length of the colorimetric tube and “2 open ends” are part of the calibration.

Tunnel Ventilation systems along with evaporative pads systems are effective at reducing summer temperatures in swine and poultry buildings. Here are some hints to keep your houses running at peak efficiency.

1) Bleed off water to control mineral content

As water is circulated and evaporated in a pad system the concentration of minerals is increased.  This is especially true in areas that have hard water with its higher levels of dissolved minerals. It is suggested that 5% to 10% of the circulated water should be continuously bled out of the system. Alternatively you can also dump and replace the sump tank water weekly. Products such as Scale-Stop or Cool-N-Kleen Cool Cell Descaler can be effective in controlling scale buildup for farms with very hard water when coupled with bleed off.

2) Check pH

Desired pH level of the water should be between 6 and 9.  The pH levels outside of the this range shorten pad life by leaching out the stiffening agents in the pad. You can alter the pH of the water by adding one of the descaler agents listed above or Grower Select’s Kool-Cell Kleen.

3) Eliminate dry spots on the pad

Dry areas on the pads allow uncooled air to enter the building.  Simply put,  if the pad’s not wet it’s not cooling. Dry streaked areas on the pad are a clear sign that you have clogged holes in the distribution system.  Remove the cover and unstop the clogged holes in the header system.  It is a good practice to clean the distribution system by opening the ball valves and flushing water through at least once a month.

4) It’s a pain… but you have to clean the filters

Install a spin down water filter with a clear housing and 60 mesh screen on the system and keep it clean. It will prevent clogged distribution pipes and dirty pads. The poorer the water quality the more often the filters need to be cleaned. Installing a filter with a ball valve will simplify the chore.

5) Prevent algae growth

Although H2PADs are treated with an fungicide and come with ProTech edging to prevent algae from adhering to the pad surface, this does not completely eliminate the problem.  Treat the system  water with a good preventive product like Bio-Stop or Grower Select’s Kool-Cell Kleen to keep algae under control. In addition,  the pads should be allowed to dry out once every 24 hours to improve the longevity of the pad.  Program your ventilation system to allow the fans to continue to run awhile after the pad system is turned off at night.  This will pull air through the system, drying the pads out and killing any algae spores.

“Do you know the one thing that hasn’t changed in broiler production over the last 50 years?”

“How we start chicks on feed”

Really when you think about it, it’s true.  Ventilation has changed from curtain-sided natural vent to computer controlled fan powered tunnel ventilation.  Heating has evolved with tubes and brooders replacing forced air furnaces.  Feed systems, feed, better genetics…..are all very different than they were just a few years ago.  But really the equipment and methods used to start chicks have changed very little.

Whether they use feed paper, paper trays, plastic trays or flood feed in the pans… growers all have the same problems.   The feed becomes contaminated from chicks crawling through it; they scratch the feed into the litter and lay in the trays blocking access to the feed.

Last year we introduced a specialized chick feeder called the Turbogrow that may change your thinking about how to start chicks in your broiler house.   The Turbogrow’s unique patented design give chicks full access to feed without allowing them to contaminate it by crawling through it. The lip of the feed pan prevents feed from being scratched out and there’s no place for the chicks to lay blocking others from eating.

The result is clean, dry feed that’s always accessible to the birds.  Growers have reported up to 14% higher final live weight and better feed conversions when using Turbogrow for 12-15 days at the beginning of the flock.  Each Turbogrow will provide enough feed space for 100 chicks.

Along with better growth and conversion results there are  some important labor saving features.  If you choose to hand feed, the large 10 lb. hopper requires less time to fill than trays.  The Turbogrow also adapts to automatic filling by using in-line chick drops on the existing fill lines. The final labor advantage comes at the end of the brood period.  Since the chicks don’t contaminate the Turbogrow like they do feed trays there’s no need to wash them.   Just hang them upside down to keep the dust out and the ready to use for the next flock.

For more details stop at any Georgia Poultry store or call 866-850-4446.

Or order a few on line….put them in one of your houses and get a feel for how they work.  See for yourself how clean the feed stays.  Then consider a house full to compare the results on your own farm.

Last year the Midwest received an abnormal amount of snowfall and rain along with strong winds. The wind piled ice and snow in large drifts on the barns roofs that exceeded the rafters designed load.

Number 1 rule to protect your buildings during the upcoming winter season? PROMPTLY REMOVE THE SNOW AND ICE FROM YOUR BUILDINGS!

A rafter that has a 25 lb snow load is overloaded with only 15 inches of wet/heavy snow or 5 ½” of ice.   Even a snowfall of only a couple inches can cause problems because of drifting snow.  It cannot be stressed enough, remove all snow from roofs immediately to prevent an accumulation that may cause roofs to fail.

In addition to removing the snow and ice promptly you can also protect your building’s roofs by following the guidelines below before the winter season.  

Check List and Winter Inspection for Swine Facilities

(A)   Check to see that all trusses are in plane (sitting vertical and not leaning or out of square to the connected walls and lateral braces) and that there are no bowed or broken trusses.

(B)   Check to see that all metal plates are intact and that they do not show any signs of stress (cracks, twisting, or pulling away from the lumber).

(C)   Check to see that all web members are not bowed or broken.

(D)   Make sure that all lateral braces are intact and are not loose and that nails have not pulled away.

(E)    Select areas in the building and rake the insulation back and check the bottom cord lateral braces and make sure that they are intact.

(F)    Look for areas in the barn and attic that may show moisture (inspect ceiling insulation for evidence of roof leaks).

(G)  Check ridge caps and eave inlets for missing closure strips (it is crucial that buildings do not accumulate any snow in the attic).  Close any summer air inlet doors.

(H)  Keep snow from drifting up against the sidewalls of the buildings.

(I)     Remove snow promptly from roofs.

(J)     Do not pile snow under or by eave.

(K)   Check gable end where fans are hung for pulled or broken boards.

If you have questions or if we can be of service to you please contact Andy Miller at 1.800.294.4014.