Stand-On Electric Cart Invented For Turkey Barns

2023 - Volume #47, Issue #1, Page #16

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For turkey farmers and brothers Derek and Mike Gaerke, handling and removing mortalities from their barns was time-consuming and energy-wasting.
“We’re in our mid 20’s and have four barns between us,” says Derek. “We realized we’re going to be turkey farmers our whole lives, and wheelbarrows just weren’t cutting it. So, we came up with a piece of motorized equipment to make our days easier.”
They designed a silent, 100 percent electric conveyor cart they could drive through their barns, gather deadstock into the rear box and unload them via conveyor chain into a skid steer or loader.
The DM-Cart sports a V-plow on the front to safely move turkeys to the side as they drive and a narrow frame to fit through a standard 36-in. doorway. It’s powered by two 12-volt, 50-amp/hour sealed lead acid batteries for all-day use. Charging is completed through a standard 110-volt receptacle and lasts about a week. Hauling weight starts at 750 lbs. with optional upgraded components to carry 1,100 lbs. if needed. The single-speed conveyor features 9-ga. cross members and is controlled by an electrical switch.
“Our cart has a low loading point so you’re not lifting more than you have to when you put the turkeys in,” Gaerke says. “You only handle the birds once. Just back up to a loader or wherever you need to put them and hit the switch. The back end is 2 1/2 ft. off the ground so it’s high enough to easily unload into a bucket.”
The initial purpose of the units was removing turkey mortalities, but the brothers soon realized they could also handle other jobs like hauling shavings, dirt, firewood, and feed for calves. For these types of tasks, they built modified carts featuring open tanks and twin front wheels. Other options include a toolbox that doubles as a seat, LED lights, and a larger motor.
The brothers manufacture and assemble the carts in a repurposed hog barn right at their farm and ship them all over the country.
Standard units sell for $5,000 to $6,000 plus S&H.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Derek and Mike Gaerke, DM-Carts, 4230 Saint Peter Road, Fort Recovery, Ohio 45846 (ph 419-852-8838; dmgcarts@gmail.com; www.dm-carts.com).

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Stand-On Electric Cart Invented For Turkey Barns LIVESTOCK Poultry For turkey farmers and brothers Derek and Mike Gaerke handling and removing mortalities from their barns was time-consuming and energy-wasting “We’re in our mid 20’s and have four barns between us ” says Derek “We realized we’re going to be turkey farmers our whole lives and wheelbarrows just weren’t cutting it So we came up with a piece of motorized equipment to make our days easier ” They designed a silent 100 percent electric conveyor cart they could drive through their barns gather deadstock into the rear box and unload them via conveyor chain into a skid steer or loader The DM-Cart sports a V-plow on the front to safely move turkeys to the side as they drive and a narrow frame to fit through a standard 36-in doorway It’s powered by two 12-volt 50-amp/hour sealed lead acid batteries for all-day use Charging is completed through a standard 110-volt receptacle and lasts about a week Hauling weight starts at 750 lbs with optional upgraded components to carry 1 100 lbs if needed The single-speed conveyor features 9-ga cross members and is controlled by an electrical switch “Our cart has a low loading point so you’re not lifting more than you have to when you put the turkeys in ” Gaerke says “You only handle the birds once Just back up to a loader or wherever you need to put them and hit the switch The back end is 2 1/2 ft off the ground so it’s high enough to easily unload into a bucket ” The initial purpose of the units was removing turkey mortalities but the brothers soon realized they could also handle other jobs like hauling shavings dirt firewood and feed for calves For these types of tasks they built modified carts featuring open tanks and twin front wheels Other options include a toolbox that doubles as a seat LED lights and a larger motor The brothers manufacture and assemble the carts in a repurposed hog barn right at their farm and ship them all over the country Standard units sell for $5 000 to $6 000 plus S&H Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Derek and Mike Gaerke DM-Carts 4230 Saint Peter Road Fort Recovery Ohio 45846 ph 419-852-8838; dmgcarts@gmail com; www dm-carts com

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