Efficiency in Livestock Production #3

Question 1

For most production, animals feed is typically provided __ __________

Answer 1

Ad libitum

Question 2

What does “ad libitum” mean?

Answer 2

Allowed to eat to gut fill

Question 3

How are pigs and chickens fed?

Answer 3

Feed is run into feeders multiple times per day

Question 4

How are feeders for pigs and chickens usually controlled?

Answer 4

Electronically, but can be done manually

Question 5

Animal management things to consider

Answer 5

How often to feed, ventilation/lighting, animal sorting, frequency of disturbance/interaction, cleaning practices, pasture rotation, animal care (vet visits, hoof trimming, shearing)

Question 6

How to manage temperature control?

Answer 6

Can’t have fully climate-controlled environment, need heat for chicks, need to cool the house when hot, need to maintain air quality,

Question 7

What does ventilation do for broilers?

Answer 7

Large effect on broiler performance, aid in temp control, and clearing ammonia

Question 8

Which animal is extremely photo sensitive to light?

Answer 8

Chickens

Question 9

_____ and _____ of light affect chickens

Answer 9

Duration; intensity

Question 10

Duration and intensity of light affect what in chickens

Answer 10

Effect behavior, feed intake

Question 11

Digitial advancements for feeding management

Answer 11

Modern production houses are controlled by computer systems (can control from smart phone), digital heard and flock programs help track performance, and automated litter robots

Question 12

Is manure an issue to address

Answer 12

Yes

Question 13

How much manure is made?

Answer 13

1.4 billion tons

Question 14

What is an area of extreme regulatory attention? Like what?

Answer 14

Manure management; permitting and IDEM

Question 15

Is manure management expensive? What is needed?

Answer 15

Yes. Required significant infrastructure and equipment

Question 16

Two categories of manure management

Answer 16

Collection and storage

Question 17

Collection of manure includes what

Answer 17

Mechanical, manual, flushing/pits

Question 18

Storage of manure includes what

Answer 18

Pits, lagoons, tanks

Question 19

Manure must be collected ____ to maintain a _____ environment. Why?

Answer 19

Frequently; clean. Could cause issues with animal health

Question 20

Can this be a significant part of a farmer’s job? Is there anything to help?

Answer 20

Yes, but many technologies to make this process easier

Question 21

Farms are required to have the capacity to store how much year’s manure?

Answer 21

One year’s worth

Question 22

The manure storage options will depend on the _______ and type of _______ you have

Answer 22

Animal; farm

Question 23

What do we do with all this manure?

Answer 23

Use as fertilizer

Question 24

Manure is a great source of what? Which are what?

Answer 24

N, P, and K which are primary nutrients provided by commercial fertilizers

Question 25

What else does fertilizer provide?

Answer 25

Organic matter and soil drainage improvement

Question 26

How many acres of crops are fertilized by manure? What is the % of US farm land?

Answer 26

15 million; 5%

Question 27

Problems with manure

Answer 27

Not well balanced for N and P, high variability, expensive to transport, issues with staging and smell

Question 28

Specifics on imbalance of N and P in manure?

Answer 28

Overapplication of P is a huge problem

Question 29

Why is manure expensive to transport?

Answer 29

High moisture content and weight

Question 30

________ digestion results in production of _____ and other _______ gases

Answer 30

Anaerobic; methane; flammable

Question 31

These gases are captured and compressed and can be used to produce ____, _______, and to ______ _______

Answer 31

Heat, electricity, power farm equipment

Question 32

Remaining solids are ____ quality and _______ fertilizer

Answer 32

High; concentrated