Ivy House Farm keeps cool with Hydor
24 April 2009
The Nottinghamshire dairy farm which produces milk for Arla Foods, has recently had an evaporative cooling system installed by Hydor.
The system is fitted within a 36 bay, rotating milking parlour and holding yard at the dairy, which has a 400 cow milking herd. The Hydor evaporative cooling system is a simple but highly effective method of reducing temperature in a variety of agricultural, horticultural and commercial applications. Surrounding air is cooled as tiny droplets of water are emitted from a series of nozzles under high pressure. The droplets evaporate in the heat rising from the animals and the surrounding air temperature is reduced whilst optimum humidity levels are maintained.
Highly economical, with low levels of water and energy consumption, the modular system is easily adaptable to various building requirements. Non-drip nozzles prevent unwanted dampness in places such as cattle lay-down areas. In enclosed areas – such as the Ivy House Farm milking parlour, the water droplets have the added benefit of reducing insect infestation and removing small particles from the air. This makes the evaporative cooling system an effective method of controlling levels of dust, odours and other pollutants.
Mark Hornbuckle of Ivy House Farm, comments; “The cooling capacity of the Hydor evaporative cooling system is excellent. The herd is milking better and is far more comfortable. Moreover, our problem with flies in the parlour has been dramatically reduced. We are extremely pleased with the system, and we are looking to extend the system to the feeding lines in our cubicle sheds in the future."
Within milking parlours and holding yards, it is vital that cows are kept comfortable to optimise production levels. The lower temperatures and reduced insect infestation are shown to increase productivity in milk yield and fat percentage. An even, comfortable temperature in feeding and housing areas promotes increased food intake levels - further improving productivity and helping to avoid potentially fatal heat stress levels in the herd.
As well as the Hydor Evaporative Cooling System, the Farm has installed eight Hydor 1250mm belt drive air movement fans in the two cubicle sheds. These fans are suspended in series along the cubicle shed and their purpose is to blow fresh air through the cubicle shed, capturing any heat, and moisture rising from the herd and removing it from the building. Mark commented; “Having installed the Hydor Fans, heat stress has been greatly reduced in the herd and their activity levels have increased, resulting in higher feeding levels, which produces a higher milk yield and better fertility in the cows.”
The farm has also installed a Hydor 1250 Belt Drive Fan in the calf shed. This has been fitted with a three speed regulator (Manufactured and supplied by Hydor) that enables the fan speed to be reduced, in order to prevent draughts affecting the animals.
