Dairy Barn Cleaner: Efficiency and Innovation in Dairy Waste Management

The prototype of a dairy barn cleaner has been developed, capable of operating with an electric motor. The belt conveyor, equipped with an L-shaped scraper blade assembly, carries cattle dung and other waste from the ground surface of the animal shelter to the dung collection box. The machine performed optimally at forward speeds of 0.4 m/s and with a peripheral speed of the belt conveyor at 0.9 m/s. Furthermore, a platform inclination angle of 290 degrees was found to be optimal based on physical, rheological properties, and machine performance tests.The machine achieves an average cattle dung collection rate of approximately 2740 kg/h. It can clean an area of approximately 864 m²/h, a task that would require about 8 man-hours using manual methods for the same area. Designed for both small and large paddocks, the machine allows for easy maneuverability by the operator from a safe distance of a few centimeters at the rear side of the machine.The machine significantly reduces the drudgery and discomfort experienced by laborers during dung collection, resulting in increased output and improved work quality.