Joe Beiler
Sereana Howard
Joe E. Heimlich
This fact sheet, one in a acres, reports data from a study that examined newsprint as an alter native bedding material for farm animals. The study was funded in part by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Litter Prevent on and Recycling.
The study addressed newsprint with black ink and examined the supply of newsprint in Ohio, effects of the paper as a bedding, as well as the absorption and decomposition. The bedding was evaluated on management and disposal, animal behavior, and aesthetics.
The newsprint bedding was shredded into small bales. Evaluators commented on the ease of use, stall maintenance, storage and disposal of the newsprint. They also observed animal behavior such as grazing on the newsprint, grooming of the animals and insulation qualities. The genera appearance of barns and fields was qualitatively assessed as to dust levels and stall and barn appearance.
Processing equipment for recycling can be expensive given the tenuous nature of paper for animal bedding, and prohibitive cost. One component of the study was to explore the potential of modifying farm equipment for use in preparing newsprint for bedding. To achieve this, pieces of farm equipment were adapted and evaluated by Extension personnel. The equipment evaluated included small and large bale choppers, a forage harvester, and a baler. For cost comparisons, used equipment was used in these trials. Evaluation included the use of the machine, problems, benefits, appropriate area of use, voluntary litter contribution, compatibility with other machinery and farm operation, and other suggestions for improvement.
The single bale chopper was tried without and with several modifications. Some modifications were made: 1) modifying the bale chute to limit the amount of paper reaching the blades; 2) every other blade was removed from the chopper; and 3) a new grill was made to limit the amount of paper reaching the blades. These adaptations did not assist the chopping of the newsprint as the machine did not have enough power and would stall even if the newsprint was fed slowly. Since the chopper was belt driven, there were problems with the belt slipping or jumping the track. This chopper was difficult to move in a loafing shed or on packed manure.
There are benefits to using this chopper. In free stall barns, this would easily fill the stalls. Transporting paper for this machine is easier in full sheets. When the machine was operating properly, the chopped size produced was excellent for bedding purposes.
A large tractor driven bale chopper was tried. This size chopper posed different problems. It was very difficult to keep full sheets of paper from slipping through unchopped and, was very dusty. The chopper was hard to maneuver, so using the large bale chopper may be limited to one area and then moved to a new location. To use this chopper, the blades must be kept very sharp. One benefit to using this machine is that no modifications are required to chop newsprint. When well adjusted, this machine can also process a large amount of paper. This size chopper has potential for turkey houses or where a large volume of newsprint is needed in an open area and dust while chopping is not a problem.
Two types of forage harvesters were used. One was a "cut and throw" chopper, and on the other, the chopper and blower were separate. All modifications to these machines were made to a "cut and throw" New Holland chopper. The corn head was replaced with a chute that was long enough to keep hands away from the knives. A fifteen horsepower electric motor replaced the power take-off drive. A new, horizontal delivery chute was built behind the chopper to deliver paper directly into the baler.
There were some problems with this system. The cut and throw chopper produced too much air and blew paper and dust all over. The process was slow and the chopper would jam if too much paper was put into it. However, if someone was hand feeding the paper into the chopper, it worked well. One conclusion was that it would be difficult to mechanize the feeding to make the system more efficient.
Other conclusions and suggestions include modifying the chopper so that the blower is separate and removable to reduce excess air that blows paper and dust. The steel feed roller could be changed to rubber rollers to increase feeding and stop jamming. Another suggestion is to modify this machine with a load and exit chutes, chop the paper, and feed into free stalls directly without baling.
Modification made to the baler included the addition of a twenty horsepower electric motor. The pick-up and auger systems were removed and the paper was blown directly into the chamber. A screen intake was added to exhaust excess air, while still directing paper into the baler.
The baler itself worked well when paper could be chopped and fed at a steady rate. Problems occurred when paper was blown into the knotters. The tension on the baler had to be closely supervised because the bales would get too big. A top feed baler is recommended for this type of processing.
The biggest problem was developing a suitable chopper. The modified cut and throw chopper would produce thirtyfive bales an hour, but it was very dusty and blew too much paper out of the baler. An on-farm system like this could work. However, processing the baled newsprint for sale to other users is not recommended with this equipment. A commercial shredder that could produce the proper size of chop is required. The baler was the piece of equipment that was easiest to use because the modifications were simple and can be done to almost all balers.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868