HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetters Wooden Barn Floors 1987COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
BARNSTABLE COUNTY OFFICE
Deeds and Probate Building
Barnstable, MA 02630
(617) 362-2511
December 28, 7987
Peter Sunner:
Post office Box 57
South Yarmouth, MA 02664
Dear Peter,
In response to your request for information on wooden barn f.Ioors
and placement of the pasture fence at the Mill Farm in Yarmouthport,I have contacted James Shaw, Regional Extension Liveatock Specia1ist
and Robert Rynk, Extension Agricul-tural Engineer at the Universityof Massachusetts.
Hith the exception of dairy barns, wood is an acceptable flooringfor barns. tlith reasonable naintenance practices, wood should notbe a health hazard fol' either the livestock or the people working in
the barns. It is my understanding that wooden floors are a potential
health hazard only in barns where animals are milked. Since you areplanning to house beef, sheep and chickens, and you are not planning
to operate a dairy barn, I know of no reason why a variance from the
Yarmouth animal code should not be granted.
I would be happy to
necessary.
Attached is a letter I
discuss these issues further should it be
::eceived fnom Robert Rynk.
SincereJ-y,
/,//!;) &*1-
William f. C1ark
County Agent-Manager
WFC/mdw
enclosune
Unlversrly oi Massachusells Coilege ol Food and Nalural Eesources. Ufirred Slates Depa,lmenl oi Agiculure and Massacrrusells couflie.i coopcrar,.qcooperallve Etlensron olJers equal opDoilunrty rn progra,is and o.np oymenl
With regards to the 50 foot set back of pasture fencing, I feefa variance should be granted on the basis that the animals could utilizethe full- pasture area. This will obviously provide for the maxirnum
amount of feed area as wel.L as .increase the area the manure generatedwiII be spread. Although I do not feel the animal manure in the proposedpasture area poses a threat to the environment, the ]arger the pastule
area the less concentrated the manure will be.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSE'I'I'S
OEPARTMENI OF FOOD ENGINEEFING
Agricullural Engineering Building
Amherst. MA 0lOO3
(413) 54s.2547
Decem.lcer 14, 1987
Mr. Willian Clark
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Deeds and Probate Bullding
BarnstabLe, MA 02630
Dear Bill:
This letter is in response to your question regarding publichealth reasons for prohibiting wooden floors in livestock barns.
tlith the exception of ',miIking,, barns. I know of NO publichealth reasons for prohibiting wooden floors in tivestock barns.
Wood has long been used as a floor material in livestock buildingswithout causing health problems to either the animals or the farmstaff. Some people may assume that wooden floors harbor micro-organisms and therefore contribute to disease transmission. Inpractice, a barn is not a sterile environment. There is always abase population of microorganisms present fron bedding and manure.The building materials, lvood or otherwise, wou.Id not change themicroorganisms nunber or characteris tic s.
In barns where animals are milked, the situation changes. Mitksupports nany microorganisms. It can easily seep into wooden floorsand "feed" a bacterial population. This is why wood is not allowedin milk handJ-ing areas. This may also be the basis for the localregulation that you are concerned with. ltowever, this situationshould not be applied to places where animals are merely fed andsheltered.
I hope this letter answersyou need more information.
your questions. Please contact me if
erel
Robert Rynk
Extens.ipn Agricultural Engineer
}(K,/ Y 2
coocarellve €rlenslo'r ollers equal oopo,tunrry rtr t,oorntrr. arl(l rn!roy.n.nt