Mechanical Scrapers - Case Study

Fergie Broom Halves Wash-down Water

An old grey Fergie that has served the family for generations has a new job on the Mt Compass, South Australian, dairy farm of Lee and Jill McKenzie. It drags a custom-made broom around the yard once a day and Jill estimates it halves the water used for the yard wash. The heavy-duty straw broom made by an industrial broom maker for about $150 is replaced annually. It slots into a frame welded from tube steel that fits over the tractor tow bar. "When we set up the dairy about 10 years ago, we looked at what other people used and our herd manager Marty McKenzie - no relation - came up with this broom idea," Jill said. "We initially dragged it behind a four-wheel motor bike but we found that, because our concrete yard is grooved quite deeply, the wheels slipped and the motor bike kept doing CV and universal joints. So we got out the old grey Fergie." The sweep-down happens once a day, usually after the morning milk. The McKenzies and their sons Nick and Heath usually put through 1100 milkers twice a day. "One person does the shed area and the yard while another does the machine washing," Jill said. "It leaves the yard clean; the broom cleans off the manure totally and it drags off any scum so that cows coming into the yard don't slip. "And it means we don't have to open up the valve fully for the yard wash. Instead of having the valve fully open, we just only have it trickling. We only need to use half the water." 

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Contact CowTime Project Manager
Department of Primary Industries, Victoria
Phone (03) 5624 2221 or e-mail cowtime.project@dpi.vic.gov.au

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