An article in the March, 1999, issue of this newsletter described the choice of freestall bedding as a critical decision in manure system design. Freestalls designed on the basis of meeting the fundamental needs of the cow will lead to the greatest success. Sand best meets that requirement. But using sand has a profound impact on manure system design—limiting choices of equipment, type of storage and land application method. Moreover, sand complicates the operation of any system selected.

Choosing freestall bedding is an example of decision-making based on understanding the available choices, examining the consequences of each choice and ending with a compromise. Simply put, the decision finally is whether to favor cow comfort and udder health or manure handling and storage.

Moreover, choosing freestall bedding is not the only instance where manure system planning goes beyond our traditional view of system design; i.e., beyond decisions involving collection, transfer, storage, possible treatment and land application. Of even higher priority are decisions that consider the dairy farm in the broadest possible context; e.g., choosing freestall base and bedding, are even higher in priority.

In my opinion, four high priority decisions must be addressed even before we select handling equipment or type of storage. Briefly, the four decisions involve:

The Ultimate Fate of the Manure.
Basically, this amounts to having access to land that needs the nutrients along with determining if ownership is desirable. Having adequate land area is especially important to farmers planning to expand or relocate.

Choice of Freestall Base and Bedding.
This was discussed previously.

How will the Manure be Applied?
Choices of handling and application equipment depend upon regulations, public relations, location of land and choice of freestall bedding.

Will Manure be Handled as a Semi-Solid or a Liquid?
Handling manure as a semi-solid has largely gone out of favor, but may reemerge when considering transport of manure or alternative end uses.

Facing these higher priority decisions early in the planning process and considering the dairy farm in the broadest possible context both are essential. We must assure that the eventual system design will meet all of the needs of the dairy farm in the best possible way as well as satisfying the interests of the rest of society.