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Sand management important to dairy farms

Sand management is an important consideration on many dairy farms.

Renee Schrift with McLanahan Corporation says producers often source locally.

“It’s going to do the job for their manure system setup. So if a dairy is not separating sand but they need to get that sand out to the fields, they’re going to use something that’s probably a lot more fine and stays in suspension a little bit better for them.”

She tells Brownfield most dairy farmers evaluate recycled sand visually.

“Unless you’re going to test it as you turn your piles and you just evaluate the moisture content and organic content. But really the organics and moisture are the key, if we can get that sand to be as dry as possible before it goes back under the cow that’s one thing we can help to control.”

Schrift says research shows properly processed recycled sand provides the same comfort and milk quality benefits as newly purchased sand, with significant cost savings and a reduced environmental footprint.