The remaining manure production is on the open lot. This particular system is often used for young stock housing that does not normally require daily attention or sophisticated equipment. However, more frequent scraping is required to prevent waste accumulation in the alleys. However, because of the frequency of scraping, dairymen with this type of housing system are often desirous of some type of automation. Use of a gutter cleaner to convey and load the manure, as illustrated in Figure 11, has definite handling advantages.
Some operators also add automatic alley scrapers which load the gutter cleaner.
Gutter cleaner option for confined free-stall housing. This more traditional type of dairy housing, which confines the animal in a stall area, uses large quantities of bedding material. The manure is collected in a gutter and usually conveyed from the building by a gutter cleaner. Extended elevator and handling equipment can then transport the low slump material to a spreader for daily removal or to a large area for long-term storage, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. It is a violation of Indiana law to allow livestock waste and lot runoff to reach any drainage area, stream, pond, lake, river, well or other water area.