Abstract

BODAS, R. et al. Electricity consumption in Castilla y León dairy sheep farms. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2013, vol.62, n.239, pp.439-446. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922013000300012.

An energy audit model was designed and data collected on 35 dairy sheep farms in Castilla y León were used to ascertain the nature of energy and water consumption of these farms. Data regarding census and production, equipment and hours of operation (milking, cooling, water pump, hot water...), other available machinery and water consumption were studied. Rates of energy utilization per producing ewe and per unit of milk produced were calculated. Beyond the differences due to farm size, hot water consumption was at 0.42 L daily per producing ewe producing or 0.29 L per litre of produced milk produced. The average electricity consumption was 2000 kWh/month, nearly 50 kWh/ewe and year or 84 kWh/1000 L of produced milk. Milking consumes 34 kWh/day (more than 40 % of daily utility costs), followed by milk cooling (30 %) and water heating (12 %). Farms with variable speed vacuum pump had lower electricity consumption by sheep. It has been estimated that total electricity consumption accounts for 2 % of milk price.

Keywords : Efficiency; Energy; Milking; Saving.

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