How Fraser Nicholson installed the Galebreaker VVS system

Fraser runs a dairy farm over 750 acres owned and 250 acres rented.

He currently farms 420 Holstein cows housed in a shed looking out on the edge of a hill.

A total of 153 metres of curtains were installed by Galebreaker over two of Fraser's sheds “We live on a very sharp hill, and the farm and the sheds face the edge of that hill.” Fraser said.

“It’s an issue because we get a lot of driving wind from the west and the cows aren’t very well protected when the wind and rain would hit the shed.

“All the sawdust and everything else in the cubicles would blow out where the cows sleep when there was strong winds so I knew I wanted to get something to combat that.”

The process was in part due to Fraser wanting to expand his business by increasing herd size to 620 cows, extending sheds, and adding nine Lely milking robots.

V40 Controller – Galebreaker's VentLogic technology controls the opening and closing of the system automatically He explained: “That’s us finished with phase one with the shed extension, we are now in phase two which is installing the nine Lely robots into the parlour.”

When it came to choosing the best product to shelter the sheds, Fraser wanted to look around to see what was best on the market.

“I have to admit I had heard good things about the Galebreaker curtains from my colleagues, friends and others in the industry.

“I felt like their products had a lot more protection from the wind and also included something like down bars that held the curtains in place.”

Weather Station - continuously optimising the building environment based on temperature, rain and wind speed. The system Fraser installed was the Galebreaker side curtain system: VVS (Variable Ventilation System).

According to Galebreaker, their VVS system promotes natural ventilation by providing an inlet for fresh air to enter the building; this enhances air quality and helps maintain the internal temperature of the building.

Having a solid fabric curtain which can open and close depending on the weather also provides rain and wind protection when needed most, with the flexibility that during the summer months they can be totally opened up.

Optimising the internal environment of livestock buildings can increase productivity and reduce disease risk, as well as conserving valuable bedding resources.

Galebreaker’s control systems make use of internal temperature, wind speed, wind direction and rain sensors to ensure that the climate within the building is constantly optimising the internal environment – when it is too cold the curtains automatically close and when it starts raining the curtains close – all of this is done automatically, giving the farmer peace of mind that their livestock have the best environment in which to thrive.

The automation also reduces the amount of labour required on farm.

The system is finished off with End Covers on each end of the curtain which prevent draft entering between the curtain and the building ​Galebreaker customers have the choice of using mesh material which enhances ventilation or a solid translucent material which provides weather protection all year round.

Curtains come in a range of colours to satisfy local planning requirements or to match existing buildings.

For Fraser, the process started in the summer time around June and July.

“In the summer, when we were building our extension on the shed. That’s when I started looking at what sort of things were on the market and having a look at what other farmers were putting in.”

He continued: “It was then that I made the enquiry at Galebreaker, this led to a sales representative coming out and measuring everything followed by a technical man, who came out to check all the dimensions.

Galebreaker Scotland sales manager Mike Bryan “After that I got a quote and they said delivery and installation would take ten weeks and I can confirm they stuck to their delivery date.

“It wasn’t as if I had to wait months and months for everything to be completed which I was worried about but it wasn’t an issue.”

Galebreaker’s local sales manager, Mike Bryan, has been working with the company for more than 12 years so is very experienced in all the company’s products and their application.

Mike is available to visit the farm to provide advice and a no-obligation quote.

When it came to the installation process, Fraser was impressed with the results.

“The installation side was very good I must admit. The team that came in to put in the curtains were very professional and they did quite a tidy job.”

The installation process was around seven days’ worth of work.

“The shed is 180ft long so there was roughly two curtains 56m long being installed alongside 41m on another shed so there were three sides of the shed needing done so it was a big job.”

Fraser explained: “They look really good and they are very tidy fitting compared what we had and some of the other types of products on the market.”

Fraser ultimately opted for this product to help cover and shelter the cows in the winter months from the harsh winds and potential storms.

“We have only just got them but I would say they in the early stages they are looking very good and seem to be holding up very well.” he said.

“They’ve got temperature gauges on the inside of the shed that if it’s below eight degrees the curtains will close and it is the same if there is a wind blowing in, it all happens automatically as they are weather controlled.”