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Rodney and Brett Bowden with new Airstorm 54″ fan

To the best of my knowledge, when we built them in 1989, these were the first tunnel/natural ventilated houses constructed in the state,” explained Rodney Bowden at his family farm near Clinton, NC.  “We’ve always had good results in the buildings, but the recent upgrades have improved our performance.”

Rodney added two GrowerSELECT 54″ AirStorm fans per house to increase airspeed and reduce the ambient temperature.  The durable AirStorm 54″ fans feature a fiberglass housing, plastic shutters, and a stainless steel prop.

GrowerSELECT Classic Flood feed pans

The next step in the upgrade was to replace the original feed pans with GrowerSELECT Classic Flood feeders. Rodney said, “Installing the new pans helps minimize wasted feed when the birds are young and has improved my feed conversion during grow out.”

These investments have paid off with an increased bird performance and helped Rodney settle in first place among his group several times since the upgrade.

Click GrowerSELECT for more information about our quality feeding and ventilation systems.  

Nameplate from GrowerSELECT fan motor

Today’s livestock and poultry operations rely on electric motors for a variety of feeding and ventilation functions. Used in buildings that can be both dusty and humid, with fluctuations in voltage and varying workloads we subject our motors to a very hostile work environment.

When selecting replacement motors, it is important to select motors that are both efficient and designed with a “safety factor” that will allow them to last under harsh conditions.

While you may be familiar with the term Service Factor or S.F., there are a couple of important designations found on a motor nameplate that may need more clarification.

Service Factor is defined as a motor’s ability to operate under a short-term load.   The higher a motor’s S.F. rating, the more durable the motor.  Motors with high S.F. are expected to last longer. To illustrate, a 1-1/2 Hp motor with a 1.5 S.F. can provide 2.25 Hp for short-term use.   However, it is not a good practice to continuously operate a motor above the rated workload. In other words, the same 1-1/2 Hp motor with  1.5 SF would not be selected to power a 60″ fan originally shipped with a 2 Hp motor.

Full Load Amps or F.L.A. represents the amount of current the motor is designed to draw at the rated horsepower. In the example nameplate, this means that when the motor is running under a full load at 230 volts, we can expect it to draw 5.4 amps. Motors with a lower F.L.A. for the amount of horsepower are considered more efficient to operate.

Service Factor Amps or S.F.A. represents the amount of current the motor will draw when running at the full Service Factor. In the example nameplate, the S.F.A. is eight amps at 230 volts.

Continually exceeding the S.F.A. shown on the nameplate can shorten motor life. Motors with a higher S.F.for the same horsepower have an increased “safety factor” and are expected to last longer under harsh conditions.

The most efficient, rugged motors are designed with a higher S.F., lower F.L.A., and higher S.F.A ratings. By comparing the information on a motor nameplate, we can select the best replacement motors for feeding and ventilation equipment.

Hog Slat designed the GrowerSELECT line of motors to help simplify a producer’s decision on selecting replacement motors. GrowerSELECT motors feature a high Service Factor (as high as 1.5) and higher  S.F.A. rating to increase motor life.  Each model number is a direct cross to the most popular brands of feed systems and fans used on producers’ farms. No matter what your existing brand of equipment we have a GrowerSELECT motor designed to replace it and save money while doing so. Shop GrowerSELECT motors.

GrowerSELECT Proxy Control on display  at the 2016 World Pork Expo

One of the products Hog Slat introduced at the 2016 World Pork Expo is designed to give pork producers an improved method for controlling feed line motors.

The GrowerSELECT Proximity Drop Tube Control features a flat proxy sensor that can detect feed levels through the plastic housing. The flat proxy mounts to the side of the feed tube and doesn’t require drilling a hole for installation. The compact design takes up less room on the control compared to rod type proxy sensors.

GrowerSELECT HS752

Flat Sensor

Like it happens with many advancements in electronics this improved sensor costs less than existing technology.  A quick online search shows replacement rod type proxy switches costing between $117 and $150.  The complete HS752 unit costs $125 and can replace the feed level control on any existing feed system.

Close up of sensor mounted on control

Simple wiring diagrams for existing feed systems.

Click here for manual illustrating wiring schemes for installing the HS752 on the most common feed systems.

To order go to www.hogslat.com , stop at a local store (see store locator)  or call 800-949-4647.

How can we make the claim of selling the strongest, heaviest feed bins on the market at the best possible price to swine and poultry growers?

Traditional multilevel supply chain vs. Hog Slat’s Direct Distribution

Simple. Our direct distribution system eliminates the additional markup that dealers have to add to the bin’s price. Instead, that money goes back into building a stronger bin manufactured from heavier steel. These longer lasting bins are built with 5-10% more steel, by weight, than competitive brands.

Compare the features.

Most manufacturers only use 50,000 psi structural steel for the bin sheets and legs to reduce costs.  Hog Slat bins are constructed entirely of GRADE 55 structural steel.  The bin sheets, legs, roof sheets, bottom cone sheets…the entire bin.

Heavy, dent resistant bottom cone sheets.

The bottom cone sheets of a bin are subjected to extra abuse from hammers and mallets used to dislodge bridging feed.  That’s why we used thicker steel to resist dings and dents.

Heavy 10 gauge collar

We build the bin collar out of heavier 10 gauge steel to eliminate having to add additional reinforcing collars. The collar is stamped to reduce variations in dimensions compared to rolled or spun collars.

Every Hog Slat / Georgia Poultry bin is manufactured in-house for complete control of raw material purchasing and manufacturing operations.  Our facility includes state-of-art rolling, stamping and finishing machinery to ensure precise fit and finish.

Get a quote on your next bin and see for yourself. Call 800-949-4647, go online www.hogslat.com or stop in at a local Hog Slat or Georgia Poultry store. (click for store locator)

Heavier bins, Stronger bins. Bins designed to last longer.

It starts with the selection of steel. Most feed bins are built from a mixture of steel grades. The sidewall sheets and legs are manufactured from Grade 50 structural steel (50,000 psi) while the other components are produced using a commercial grade type B steel (33,000 psi) The entire Hog Slat bin is manufactured using only Grade 55 Structural Steel with a superior strength of 55,000 psi.

We use stronger steel in the smallest part of our bin than the competition does in their most critical components.

We didn’t stop there.

We also use heavier gauges of steel in every part of the bins; including thicker bottom cone sheets, that resist dents from hammers, to bin collars over four gauges thicker than competitive brands.

Our state-of-the-art, in-house manufacturing allows us to produce heavier, stronger products with precision for ease of assembly and proper fit along with features designed to protect both the operator and the stored feed.

Our improved WeatherEdge™ design directs water away from the hopper, and rounded trapezoid ladder rungs provide for secure footing, exceeding OSHA safety standards. Hog Slat feed bins also feature a spring loaded lid that folds flat, below the fill ring, to protect it from damage during filling.

We are so confident of the quality of the bins that we offer the industry’s best warranty, an extended FIVE-YEAR warranty.

In addition to the great design and durable construction, one of the most important features of our feed bins is the local assembly, delivery, and service provided by our extensive store network. Our local stores selling directly to the end-user allows us to help eliminate extra costs and add value that makes choosing your next feed bins a simple choice.

Longer-lasting bins, a better warranty and local service.

Get a quote on your next bin and see for yourself. Call 800-949-4647, go online www.hogslat.com or stop in at a local Hog Slat or Georgia Poultry store. (click for Store Locator)

Management expert Peter Drucker is often quoted as saying that “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.” We believe this is particularly true when it comes to developing, improving and testing ventilation fans.

Hog Slat’s Wind Tunnel

Hog Slat’s AirStorm and Windstorm ventilation fans are designed and tested using an Airflow Performance Test Chamber, or as it more commonly known, a Wind Tunnel. Measuring 10′ x 10′ x 28′ long, the Wind Tunnel was constructed according to AMCA standard 210 and installed at the Clinton, NC facility in May 2015.

Fans to be tested are fixed in place on one end of the Wind Tunnel.

Air Forcing fan powered by a 20 HP motor

A 48″ axial vane fan, powered by a 20 hp motor, located on the opposite end of the tunnel, forces air into the chamber.

Nozzle Wall

After passing through a series of mesh straighteners, the air is then forced through a nozzle wall consisting of metal cones that can be opened and closed to change available square inches of space.

Pressure transmitters feed data to the automated recording system.

Two devices, called Differential Pressure Transmitters, measure and record the static pressure differential on each side of the nozzle wall.  To maintain precise accuracy, the transmitters are calibrated monthly and are also returned to the manufacturer for a factory re-calibration once per year.

One of the key features of Hog Slat’s test chamber is the automated recording system that records data without any manual input from an operator. The Wind Tunnel is ramped up from zero to maximum static pressure while up to two data points per second are recorded in real time. This automated recording system is a custom program developed by a team from Hog Slat’s engineering group. This allows Wind Tunnel technician, Matt Parker, to supply the engineering group with a complete fan performance graph instead of limiting the information to only a few selected data points.

Technician Matt Parker views display screen readouts.

Lead engineer for ventilation products, Tyler Marion explains; “Having a Wind Tunnel in-house allows us to quickly break down a fan by critical components and test multiple variables quickly. We are able to test different motor/fan combinations, shutter designs, and cone styles to constantly improve the fans Hog Slat delivers to our customers.”

QC testing fan blades

Hog Slat’s Wind Tunnel is not only used for fan testing and development, it also serves as a Quality Control check on products received from suppliers. The photo above shows a galvanized prop mounted in standard fan ring. In this case, the initial run of product from the vendor is being checked against the approved sample. This testing continues for each production run to ensure the same performance levels from lot to lot. QC checks are also run for completed fans pulled from inventory and checked against published standards for airflow, CFM/watt and motor amperage.

Matt tests a Windstorm 36″ Box Fan using the Thrust Tester.

A new addition to our fan testing equipment is the device called a Thrust Tester. The Thrust Tester measures the amount of thrust (lbf or pounds of force) a stir or circulation fan develops.  It also measures the thrust efficiency ratio of a fan by dividing the lbf by kWs used. Although the Thrust Test is a stand-alone unit, it is tied into the Wind Tunnel transmitters to record the data. Matt also records centerline velocity at distances five times the prop diameter.

To see more on Hog Slat’s complete line of AirStorm fiberglass and Windstorm galvanized ventilation fans go to www.hogslat.com or call 800-949-4647.

Here’s another selection from the 1960 edition of The Yearbook of Agriculture on the latest trends in farrowing.

Welfare-friendly farrowing pens

Caption in yearbook:
In this minimum-stress pen, the shape of the guardrail encourages the sow to lie with the teats toward the pigs. The pigs stay where it’s warm – under the heat lamp and behind the guard.

How about this for Ad Lib feeding? An overhead auger delivers feed to the farrowing pens. No carts or scoops are needed.

Labor saving feeding from the past.

And finally, double-decker farrowing crates! I saw one of these set up in Red Oak, Iowa years ago.

From the yearbook:
Hogs in double-deck, all steel, cage-type farrowing stalls. The pigs are transferred after weaning. Manure is removed by mechanical drags.

Double-decker farrowing crates.

Hog Slat manufactures a complete line of farrowing equipment for new construction or remodeling an existing facility. Our SowMAX ad lib dispenser feeds lactating sows 24/7 while reducing farm labor. See more at www.hogslat.com or call 800-949-4647.

Galvanized Hog Slat farrowing crates with SowMAX Ad Lib dispensers, Cast/ TriDEK floors, and Poly Lamps

Hog Slat’s newest feed drop hangs straight under the feed pipe to reduce twist. Available in two models; HSSD60C for mounting on Grow-Disk metal pipe or HSS55DC for model 55 PVC pipe.

The Center Drop is molded from UV stable polypropylene to prevent damage from sunlight and cold temperatures.  An open-top design permits direct installation on feed pipe and a large access plug allows access to inside of the feeder. A plastic clip for record cards completes the exterior features.

The Center Drop features positive open/close shutoff.

Large adjustment dial permits single-hand regulation feed settings from one to eight pounds.

Nylon wheel reduces wear on lifter cord and the weighted ball securely seals bottom opening.

To order go to http://hogslat.com/hog-slat-center-drop-sow-feeder-8-lb

Hog Slat’s Drop Tube Assembly completes the installation to a metal pipe.  Available in 2″ or 3″ models, the flared top reduces feed spillage and provides a flexible mount to sow drops.

To order go to http://hogslat.com/grower-select-adjustable-drop-tube-assembly-4 

I recently had a chance to look through some old books of my father’s and ran across The Yearbook of Agriculture, 1960 edition called Power to Produce. The forward from this book reads:

“The value of this book is to bring into sharp focus the technological revolution that is now changing not only agriculture but our way of life.”  and “we must make the most of the extra food technological advances provide.”

In the middle of the book, I found these two images. Black and white photos of the latest in 1960 agricultural technology for laying hens. It looks a lot like current “cage-free” egg production to me.

1960’s style aviary?

Floyd Smith, Waseon, Ohio, shown in the photograph above, demonstrates how dry the litter is in his poultry house when temperatures were below zero degrees outside and about 55° F inside. The insulated windows make the most of the wintertime sunshine to reduce moisture and keep temperatures even.

 The pole-type, prefabricated-steel laying house pictured below has a slat floor, mechanized feeder, fiberglass insulation, and an interior lining of corrugated galvanized steel sheets.  The central ridge ventilator with turnabout fans supply up to 6 c.f.m. per bird.  The building is 48 by 64 feet, has an egg room and work room 12 by 32 feet.

Check the nests mounted to the wall.

This was the time period when augers to fill feeders and automated water systems were the latest technology and began to replace hand labor. Confinement systems were beginning to be developed to allow fewer farmers to provide more food to a growing urban population.

Hog Slat and Georgia Poultry are in the business of providing egg producers with the latest options for producing “cage-free” eggs.  Give us a call today at 800-949-4647.

Potter’s Nests at Yuppie Hill Poultry

At one time or another, almost ever poultry grower has walked into a house and found empty pans caused by a malfunctioning control pan. These unplanned feed outages cause broiler performance to suffer and potential lost revenue at close out.

Control pans using mechanical paddle switches are subject to failure when fine feed dust packs in behind the paddle. When the fabric diaphragm, protecting the switch, becomes torn this can happen even more frequently.

Advanced G-Logic sensor replaces mechanical paddle switches.

The new G-Logic Control Pan utilizes a different type of switch to prevent this kind of feed outage from occurring. The G-Logic Sensor replaces mechanical switches with the most accurate solid-state technology available today. It electronically detects when the feed level fills the control pan and shuts the feed line motor off. After the level drops and calls for the feed line to start, a preset 60-second delay prevents short-cycling to improve motor life.

Encapsulated solid-state sensor

The G-Logic sensor has no moving parts to wear out, no adjustment screws and no fabric diaphragms to replace. Unlike open mechanical button switches, the sensor is sealed from harsh poultry house environments.

The G-Logic control pan comes complete with a 10′ pigtail cord and 18″ cord protector. It’s an 115/230 volt unit with an 8-spoke grill. It’s available at any Georgia Poultry, Eastern Shore or Hog Slat store near you. Go online at www.gapoultry.com or call 800-949-4647.