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Westlandyn Farms Layer Operation
Stonecrest Engineering Inc is proud to add the Westlandyn modern egg production operation to our Feature farm section. This operation showcases our corporate ability to deliver our customers a full suite of planning, design, construction management services and leading edge quality production equipment in a single contract.
The West Family
Gary, Brenda, Adam & Danielle West
Westlandyn Farms is a partnership of Gary and Brenda West and their son Adam & daughter-in-law, Danielle West
Farm Overview
- Former dairy barns are now leased to a young beginning dairy couple with a start up herd of 40 lactating cows & replacements
- Gary and son Adam jointly manage the layer operation. As it doesn’t require full-time dedication Adam works off the farm with a local excavating contractor.
- Adam does an early morning management review prior to leaving for work. His dad, Gary, the daily morning egg gathering & packing that requires approximately 2-1/2 hours. On weekends they share the daily routines providing family time.
- Fieldwork responsibilities have been given up in favour of a sharecropping arrangement with a local cash cropper. They have liquidated much of their former field implements and tractor power.
- Acreage share cropped includes 180 acres owned and 200 acres rented.
- Crops consist of 1/2 of the acreage in corn annually, 15 acres of hay, and the balance equally in wheat and soybeans.
- Adam represents the third generation of the West family to make a living in the farming industry. His grandparents—Jack & Margaret are still residing on the dairy farm in the original family homestead. Brenda and Gary West on another property adjacent to the new layer operation.
- The West family continue a proud tradition and have been leaders in their industry spanning over three generations gaining recognition as:
- Outstanding Young Farmers Award in early 80’s
- County milk production awards in mid-80’s
- A Leading regional egg producer in 2007
- Significant leader/contributor to local community and agri-organizations.
Westlandyn Farms is a modern egg production farm located in Shakespeare, Ontario. This facility was constructed for the West family and began operation in late 2003.
Gary and Brenda West, previously, operated a family dairy farm milking 70 head of Jersey and Holstein cows plus all replacements. The dairy operation, originally started by Jack and Margaret West, began in 1956 and is still operated with the barns and facilities now leased to a new young dairy producer.
After the West’s son Adam, and his wife Danielle, became partners in the family operation it was decided to switch to a layer operation. This was a new venture for them so it was an easy decision to turn over project responsibility--- design, construction management, and equipment supply to a trusted, local neighbouring firm—Stonecrest Engineering (SE)
SE, and a sister company Faromor Ltd., had all the in-house expertise and product required to deliver a state-of-the-art layer facility.
New provincial legislation required that the West’s prepare and submit a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). Again, SE was able to prepare the NMP, provide engineered structural drawings, address regulations and obtain building permits. Ensuring they could devote their attention to operating an ongoing dairy.
The West’s next decision was to select a qualified farm builder. SE prepared tender documents, and obtained competitive quotes. Although a competitive price was desired, it was equally important to choose a builder with whom SE and the West family had confidence. They choose a reputable and experienced builder—John Ernewein Construction Ltd.
Barn design was based on a four row wide x 4 cage high layout with adequate wall height to accommodate a future 5th level cage expansion. With Zucami trolley feeding this 25% expansion could later be accommodated without building changes.
The manure storage was placed at the end of the cage barn rather than in a common “L” formation. Expansion beyond this planned 25% was not anticipated and existing geography resulted in reduced initial site development costs.
Sister company, Faromor Ltd, installed a Zucami cage and manure removal system manufactured in Spain. Zucami, a product relatively new in Canada, but well recognized as a leading cage manufacturer worldwide.
Zucami Poultry Cages---innovative design features: Displaying innovative design and unique features Zucami cages offer a peaceful and gentle accommodation for the bird and ensures uniform ventilation within the cage.
Zucami feed trolleys, offering proven performance, deliver fresh feed to all the birds in a balanced & equal manner.
Feed troughs feature a feed shield and lip to prevent waste.
Each feed trolley is equipped with two centrifugal fans that direct a jet of high velocity air over all egg collection belts as it travels along the cage row.
This air stream removes dirt particles resulting in noticeable cleaner eggs. It also encourages the birds to be more alert & active during feeding.
Cages are manufactured with injected plastic partitions having multiple uniformly sized holes to improve cage ventilation and ensure a long, corrosion free, life.
The full front access door facilitates easy bird placement and removal without injury.
Eggs are transported from the cage to the front-end egg lift conveyor via collection belts. Eggs are gently transferred from collection belts to lift conveyor.
The lift conveyor automatically moves to each level to receive the eggs and transport them gently to an automated packer.
Belt speed is regulated at the packing station to optimize operator capacity.
Egg gathering and packaging is easily managed at the packer work station permitting a single operator to gather and pack eggs from 25,000 hens in 2-1/2 hours daily.
From the egg packer the eggs are placed in flats, skidded and moved to an adjacent refrigerated storage room awaiting twice a week pick up.
Manure accumulates below the cage on manure belts and these are operated regularly (every 3-4 days) to transfer the manure to a below floor level cross collection belt at the end of the cage rows.
This manure belt conveyor transports manure to the covered manure storage.
Ventilation in the layer barn is accomplished with continuous air inlets located at wall/ceiling juncture on each side. Appropriate capacity, corrosion free, fiberglass fans are evenly positioned down both sides of the building.
At the heart of the operation is a Hotraco computerized control system that manages fans, and air inlets to ensure optimum environmental conditions year around.
The Hotraco control system automatically manages the feeding system from feed bin to cage giving the manager a choice of number of day feedings.
From the storage bin an inline electronic feed weigher continuously records the weight of feed delivered per bird daily and can adjust to match calculated consumption rates.
A failure of any system component triggers an alarm call out to the individual on call that confirms the nature of problem for required action.
The manure storage is ventilated with manual winches positioning side wall curtains to ensure sufficient ventilation to protect the storage against deterioration by released manure gases and to keep out the elements.
Is the Westlandyn family still satisfied following four years of continuous operation? Yes, and although new entrants to the poultry industry, they have achieved early recognition as top regional egg producers.
Brenda and Gary West are satisfied to have made the change into egg production and pleased that their son and his family are demonstrating a strong interest in continuing the West family farming tradition. Here they enjoy a relaxed moment with their neighbour and owner of Stonecrest/Faromor companies.
