Extension Plans Dairy Field Day for March
Auburn, Jan. 30, 2004 --- The Alabama Cooperative Extension System will hold a Dairy and 
Nutrient Management Field Day March 18 at Taff Dairy near Phil Campbell in Franklin County.  
	
Taff Dairy has a history of strong production combined with sound management.  The dairy has 
recently begun a new waste management system that will interest dairy producers from Alabama 
and surrounding states as well as people in the horticulture and nursery business.  
	
The Field Day begins at 9:30 and features a number of brief seminars, including a discussion of 
Taff Dairy’s new waste management system.
	
Dr. Pete Moss, an animal scientist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said James 
Taff decided there was marketing potential in the manure his operation generated.
	
“About a year and a half ago, they made changes in their waste management.  They continue to 
use a settling basin with draining of liquid into their lagoons, but semi-solids are pumped into a 
screw-type press for removal of additional water,” said Moss.  “The solids are then composted in 
a large tumbling cylindrical vat.  The resulting compost receives some additional drying before 
marketing.
	
“James has gotten a lot of interest in his product, and he is pleased with marketing to date as well 
as the possibilities for the future.”
	
Although the focus of the field day will be on waste management and the compost material, other 
management options at the Taff Dairy will also be discussed as participants tour the facilities.  An 
update on milk pricing or outlook will also be included along with a lunch. 
	
For more information, contact Dr. Timothy Reed, Franklin County Extension coordinator, at (256) 
332-8880 or via e-mail at reedtim@auburn.edu, or Boyd Brady, Extension dairy associate, at 
(334) 844-1562 or via e-mail at bbrady@acesag.auburn.edu. 



DAIRY & NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FIELD DAY
March 18
James and Deb Taff Dairy
2 miles South of Phil Campbell, Ala. on State Hwy. 13


 9:30 a.m.	Registration for Field Day 
10:00 a.m.	Welcome & Introductions
		 Dr. Pete Moss, Dr. Tim Reed and James Taff
10:10 a.m.	Tour of Freestall Barn and Nutrient Management System
		Dr. Pete Moss, James Taff and Andy Tangeman

		Freestall Barn; Bedding, Cleaning, Flushing	Waste Water Removal; 		
	Settling, Basin and Screw-Type Press Handling Water-Nutrients; Lagoon, 	
	Irrigation; Composter Filling and Fermentation; Emptying Composter and 		
	Handling of Composted Solids; Nutrient Content of Cow Peat Composted 		
	Solids
		
		Use and Marketing of Composted Solids (Cow Peat)
		Nursery Bedding
		Freestall Bedding Material
		Other Uses and Sales
	
		Questions

11:30 a.m.	Addressing Consumer and Media Questions on Dairy Issues
		Larry Shirkey, SUDIA
11:50 a.m.	Animal Identification Cradle to Grave, Calf Hutch to 	Consumption
		Boyd Brady
12:05 p.m.	Lunch
12:45 p.m.	Milk Prices and Outlook
		 Mickey Childers and Jim Cravey
1:20 p.m.	Management Overview and Tour of Dairy
		Dr. Pete Moss, James Taff, Deb Taff, Boyd Brady and Others
			Herd Health
			Breeding and Genetics
			Parallel Milking Parlor
			Silage and Hay; Harvesting, Purchasing and Storage
			Feeding Program; Purchasing, Rations, Storage
			Calf Raising
			Heifer Housing and Management
 3:00 p.m.	Summary and Wrap-Up