Odor Conrol at Small Facility

[Cattle Cards]

Have one April calf/show heifer in a metal barn on 7 acres.  I bed on sawdust and clean the barn twice a day.  Dampen it when new dry sawdust is added.  Fan runs almost continuously.  I don't notice it but owners, used to horses, are commenting on the smell.  I think they are smelling what I dump in the pasture and area back in the trees to fill low spots as they requested.  They smell it in the barn and back by the trees but have said not by the house.  I know there are enzymes, etc. but also need it safe for the stall area and most products are for larger facilities.  Would like an inexpensive solution that will keep us all happy.  They are close but I do not need something coming between us.  And the barn is only a few miles from my house which allows me free access multiple times a day...

 

[Cattle Cards]

I need help please... :-\

 

[oldwood]

we put a little burnt lime down ,then saw dust, really knocks  the odor

 

[kfacres]

not sure what burnt lime is... but use just plain ag lime as a foundation in the barns...

 

[CAB]

Boy I hate to say this, but if one calf on 7 acres being taken care of like you explain bothers them, I think that you are going to have a very hard time keeping the landlord happy!!!

 

[vc]

You clean twice a day but how often do you dump the wagon? Each time you clean, dump your wagon, the faster the manure can get a crust on it and start drying out the faster the smell will dissipate. We have a 10 cf wheel barrow and the boys would get it over half full before they would dump it, it did not smell sitting there but when you dumped it you could sure smell it.
Instead of shavings try wood chips or ceder fiber, they are easier to clean, keeps the smell down and will last longer.

 

[RankeCattleCo]

We bed where our two heifers are tied every day with woodchips.  We freshen chips every day amd before we freshen every time we put down a good shovel full of lime, it really knocks the smell.

 

[Shadow Hill Farm]

Next time you strip everything out let it air dry before putting down anything else. Then go with your lime and shavings. Lime becomes your best friend for smell control in the barns. Maybe look into shavings that are less dust so that way you don't have to wet it down. Wetting it down everyday could be adding to it. IMO Good luck!

 

[SouthWest]

Pour a bag of cat litter when putting in new shavings.  It works the same as in litter box.  Dollar store or walmart cheapest.

 

[Showgirl33]

we take some regular Pine-Sol and sprinkle some of that on the bedding after we turn out the calves for the night.

 

[kfacres]

Pour a bag of cat litter when putting in new shavings.  It works the same as in litter box.  Dollar store or walmart cheapest.

can't imagine that being cheaper than lime... 

 

[chambero]

In reality, there isn't much you can do but hope they get used to it - which is a real possibility. I think horses stink a lot worse than cattle.  They should get accustomed to cattle to the point they don't notice it.  It's been pretty muddy around here lately so things are little riper than normal - but it has more to do with mud than manure.

If possible, go do Kennedale to Cedar Fiber Company and get those shavings if they'll let you use those.  A little better at absorbing odor and they don't get as wet as sawdust/pine shavings.

There isn't anyway one calf is causing a real odor issue.