At Lochmead Farm in Junction City, Oregon, dairy farmer Buzz Gibson and his son Chris have turned cow manure from a waste product into a source of profit. By using a Brown Bear PTO PA35-10.5 compost attachment on their New Holland tractor, became a Farm Composting Success by creating bedding for their cows and a product to sell to local landscaping companies.
The Farm Composting Success
The composting process begins after the farm’s 600 cows flush their waste into a separator. The liquid waste goes to a lagoon, while the manure cake is collected in a pile where it sits for a few days. The Gibsons then use their tractor and compost attachment to form the cake into long rows. These rows heat up to around 130 degrees Fahrenheit during the composting process, killing bacteria in the manure.
Financial Benefits
After just one week, the bacteria-free compost is either used as bedding in the cows’ freestalls or sold to landscapers. This simple process takes only a couple of hours each week and has generated a net profit of around $30,000 in the last year. This profit comes from both compost sales and savings on sawdust, which the farm previously purchased for bedding.
Health Improvements
Beyond financial gains, composting has significantly improved cow health at Lochmead Farm. The bacteria-free compost bedding has reduced cases of mastitis, a bacterial infection affecting milk production. Buzz Gibson estimates that the farm saves an additional $32,000 to $40,000 per year due to healthier cows.
Environmental Impact
Compost bedding eliminates major environmental bacteria, making it superior to dry manure or sawdust bedding. Since switching to compost bedding, the farm has seen drastic reductions in bacteria counts and E. coli levels. Additionally, the somatic cell count (SCC), which measures milk quality, has improved significantly.
The Gibsons rarely lose a cow now, showcasing the positive impact of compost bedding on their herd’s health. Lochmead Farm’s success story highlights how effective composting can be for dairy farms, addressing environmental concerns while enhancing operational efficiency and generating additional income.
- Brown Bear Equipment Overview: Discover various models of Brown Bear equipment.
- Innovative Manure Management: Explore innovative manure management solutions.
- Benefits of Composting: Understand the advantages of composting for agricultural operations.
- Composting Benefits for Dairy Farms: This article discusses the advantages of composting for dairy operations, including financial and environmental benefits that align with Lochmead Farm’s practices. Grainews – Composting as a Manure Handling Option .
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): The NRCS provides guidelines and resources for farmers looking to comply with environmental regulations, relevant to Lochmead Farm’s composting efforts. NRCS .
- Dairy Management Practices: This resource from the University of California discusses best practices in dairy management, including manure handling and composting techniques. UC Dairy Management .
