Project overview
The Pouliot family has developed their dairy and maple syrup production activities, with a herd of 280 milking cows. Feeding the herd and managing manure spreading were daily challenges. The existing facilities were no longer sufficient to meet the growing needs, and the costs associated with purchasing and spreading bedding represented a significant proportion of expenses.
Feeding Automation
To modernize their facilities and optimize their operations, the owners chose Valmetal solutions. The Autoration Maestro allowed them to automate the management of both kitchens, facilitating the preparation of recipes in advance and improving farm organization. Replacing their old vertical mixer with a TMR Master 625 and adding a V-Mix 700 increased the capacity and efficiency of ration mixing. A 24 ft × 100 ft silo was added in 2021, and a 26 ft silo with a central unloader will be added in 2025.
Manure Separation System: Thousands of Dollars in Saved Annually
The valorization and better management of manure were two of the main objectives of this modernization. With the installation of a separation system, the manure is now recycled into an abundant and comfortable bedding for the cows, generating significant savings, as the cost of conventional bedding was nearly $85 000, while also being more environmentally friendly.
The benefits of these changes are numerous: greater flexibility due to the two mixers ensuring continuity in case of failure, savings from recycled bedding, and improved efficiency. The results: reduced production costs and an increase in the profitability of the operation!
