Standoff and feedpads

Outdoor standoff and feed pads are gaining favour, particularly in Ireland where the anticipated expansion in cow numbers after quota abolition in 2015 means farmers will quickly outgrow their existing, in many cases, older cow housing facilities. Woodchips are the commonly used material for the pad but, like New Zealand, availability is a key issue. One farm bought in thin logs and chipped them but care needs to be taken they aren’t too fresh because that will reduce their absorbency. Another farmer used recycled timber furniture sourced from the recycling plant. Like NZ there are guidelines on how to build a standoff pad. Drainage to slurry storage must be put in when the pads are being built and protection against any downward leakage of slurry is also required. The top 20-30cm on most pads seen on the tour was replaced each year and commonly the top 15cm was scraped off and replaced once during the winter as well. Hydraulic scrapers can be used effectively on outdoor concrete feedpads.