Move calf feed and supplies by wagon
Ideas for more
efficient dairy
farming.
by Gunnar Josefsson,
Marcia Miquelon and
Larry Chapman
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Healthy Farmers, Healthy Profits Project
It’s inefficient to transfer milk, containers and supplies in several trips by hand. A simple cart or wagon can dramatically improve your calf feeding system.
Benefits:
Save time. When you carry milk, feed and supplies for 15 pre-weaned calves by hand, you may make 10 round trips a day between the milkhouse and the hutch area. At a distance of 50 yards, this means carrying loads in buckets for a total of 10-15 minutes each day. Using a simple cart can cut the number of trips and the total travel time in half and save more than an hour each week.
Hauling heavy 5-gallon buckets is hard on the back, arms, wrists, shoulders
and hands.
This worker is able to carry six buckets of milk at once. Without the
cart it would take her three round-trips to deliver this much feed.
Improved working conditions. Hand-carrying heavy 5 gallon buckets strains the back, arms, wrists and shoulders. Over time this can result in injury and lost work time. The narrow bucket handles can cause pain by cutting into your hands. Using a cart or wagon greatly reduces the amount of lifting and carrying you do. Therefore, it cuts down on the risk of back pain and injuries. What’s more, you can mix and pour milk right on the wagon, which means you don’t have to do as much stooping as you would if you were mixing on the floor.
Easy to implement. All you need is a wagon or cart, and a relatively smooth and level path from the barn or feed preparation area to the calves’ hutches. A wider wheelbase and wider tires will make it easier to pull the cart across unpaved surfaces.
Easy to use. Carts and wagons can be easily managed by all calf care workers, both young and old.
