UNIVERSITY of PENNSYLVANIA

Almanac

Tuesday,
November 5, 1996
Volume 43 Number 11


Solar Agriculture: New Bolton's
'Greenhouse' Barn (story below)


IN THIS ISSUE

Death of Dr. Sled' in Street Attack;
Remembering Volodya (Tomoko Ohnishi)

SEC Agenda: Nov. 6, 1996

Council Agenda: Nov. 13, 1996

Council: On Automatic Weapons

News in Brief:
'Urban Agenda'; Memorial Lecture for Janet Stevens; Memorial Service for Dr. Baltzell; Clarification on Summer Course Grants

Washington Report:
Higher Education and the Recent Congress

OF RECORD:
Sexual Harassment Policy;
Policy on Consensual Sex


COMPASS Features

OPPORTUNITIES

PENN PRINTOUT: The Digest


New Books: Judge Higginbotham, Neil Welliver

Update

CrimeStats



Solar Agriculture: New Bolton's 'Greenhouse' Barn

New Bolton Center, the 600-acre rural campus of the University's School of Veterinary Medicine in Chester County, has another "first" to its credit: A new 200-head dairy barn that is the first greenhouse-type barn in Pennsylvania. Adapting a design usually constructed in the northern stateswhere it has proved to be a big boon to the dairy industry since it is energy efficient, naturally bright, and easy to keep drythe construction company made design modifications that reduce heat build-up in this climate. The shell of the building is pre-manufactured as a solar agriculture building--in essence, a plastic greenhouse. In the summer, the sides of the barn can be rolled up for cross-ventilation.

The dairy was officially dedicated on October 18 with a welcome from Dean Alan M. Kelly and opening remarks from President Judith Rodin. Dr. Mark Allam, who preceded Dr. Marshak as dean, called the naming of the advanced facility most fitting: "Bob Marshak, early in his career as a practitioner and later here at the school, was interested in research of diseases of cattle," he said. "He was instrumental in establishing the school's leadership position in basic and clinical research of animal diseases." The Marshak Dairy Facility will serve as a living laboratory for the School and as a research and teaching site in dairy cattle health, productivity and economics. It will also enhance the teaching environment for veterinary and graduate students interested in the medical and managerial aspects of dairy operations.
The complex includes an administration area with a room overlooking the milking parlor; four sections of 40 free stalls where cows can lie down on padded mattresses, and a space for 48 comfort stalls or traditional tie stalls. For nutritional studies, each cow can be fed a different mix and monitored by computer. A flushing system that uses recycled water to wash manure into a holding lagoon where it is turned into fertilier--minimizing the purchase of chemical fertilizers and reducing farm cost.



Return to Almanac's homepage.