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In-house windrow composting of poultry litter is fast becoming the management practice of
choice for producers and integrators looking for an edge over their competition.
Implementing this process can pay handsome dividends to producers for a small investment
in labor and fuel with increased livability and improved feed conversions.
Benefits include:
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Reduced mortality rates |
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Ammonia and moisture volatilization |
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Increased bird weights |
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Improved feed conversions |
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Reduced bacteria, pathogen, and beetle levels |
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Control of diseases such as LT, dermatitis, enteritis, coccidiosis |
Process:
Immediately after bird movement, litter and cake (no crust outs!!) are windrowed into long
piles running the length of the building. Windrows are left to sit static for 1-4 days to
attain 130+ temperatures. At this point approximately 50% of the entire mass has been
pasteurized and may be spread, or the windrows are aerated to expose more mass to the
heat for pasteurization. Each time windrows are aerated the floor underneath is exposed
to the air for drying, ammonia and moisture are volatilized and more bacteria, pathogens
and insects are destroyed. The more times piles are moved, the higher the benefit levels!
A minimum of 7 days lay-out time is needed with longer lay-out times allowing additional
processing. Once litter is processed the aerator can be used to rough spread litter and
prepare the floor for next placement. Labor involved from windrowing to spreading
averages 4-6 hours per house, depending on number of times windrows are aerated.
Additional Environmental Benefits:
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Recycling litter in house and eliminating crust outs reduces the amount of
uncontrollable spills of litter while transporting material from production area to
litter sheds |
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Reduced pathogen and bacteria loads in litter make more acceptable material for
land application |
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Composting converts nutrients into a more stable form which are less water soluble
for reduced run-off concerns |
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Mounting |
Universal skid loader mount |
Width |
7 or 8 foot width options |
Hydraulic flow requirement |
18-40 gpm |
Options |
Left to right hydraulic tilt, cable
guards, and manual angle |
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Mounting |
Front or Rear CAT I 3-pt hitch |
HP Requirements |
30-60 PTO, 540 or 1000
RPM, ISO or Counter ISO rotation |
Hydraulic flow requirement |
18-40 gpm |
Transmission |
Hydrostatic, creeper, IVT or
CVT |
Width |
7 or 8 foot width options |
Options |
Hydraulic tilt, radiator pre-screen, fan reverser, cable guards |
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Mounting |
Front bucket loader, CAT I 3-pt
hitch, or custom mount |
HP Requirements |
30-60 PTO, 540 or 1000
RPM, ISO or Counter ISO rotation |
Hydraulic flow requirement |
18-40 gpm |
Transmission |
Hydrostatic, creeper, IVT or
CVT |
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Width |
7 or 8 foot width options |
Options |
Hydraulic tilt, radiator, pre-screen,
fan reverser, cable guards.
Aerator is mounted on front 3-pt hitch or
loader arms, Reservoir, radiator, fan, gearbox
and pump mounted on rear 3-pt hitch |
For more information, please look at the following pages
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