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Monitoring and remediation of on-farm and off-farm ground current measured as step potential on a Wisconsin dairy farm: A case study

Not an original health-effects study

Authors not listed · 2016

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A step-potential threshold of 1 V RMS at 60 Hz is inadequate to protect dairy cows as decreases of a few mV peak-peak at higher frequencies increases milk production, reduces milking time and improves cow comfort.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This case study of a Wisconsin dairy farm documents how to establish permanent monitoring of ground current and how to determine and remediate both on-farm and off-farm sources. On-farm sources included lighting, variable speed frequency drives on motors, and a radio frequency identification system, while off-farm sources were due to a poor primary neutral return on the utility side. The study found that a step-potential threshold of 1 V RMS at 60 Hz is inadequate to protect dairy cows, as decreases of a few mV peak-peak at higher frequencies increased milk production, reduced milking time, and improved cow comfort.

Why This Matters

Ground current, commonly called stray voltage, has been an issue on dairy farms since electricity was first brought to rural America. Equipment generating high-frequency voltage transients combined with a multigrounded system and inadequate neutral returns contributes to ground current. The study addresses three misconceptions: that the 1 V standard is adequate, that frequencies above 60 Hz need not be considered, and that all ground current sources originate on the affected farm.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 60 Hz and higher frequencies exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 60 Hz and higher frequenciesCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2016). Monitoring and remediation of on-farm and off-farm ground current measured as step potential on a Wisconsin dairy farm: A case study.
Show BibTeX
@article{monitoring_and_remediation_of_on_farm_and_off_farm_ground_current_measured_as_step_potential_on_a_wisconsin_dairy_farm_a_case_study_ce4892,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Monitoring and remediation of on-farm and off-farm ground current measured as step potential on a Wisconsin dairy farm: A case study},
  year = {2016},
  doi = {10.3109/15368378.2015.1089888},
  
}
DOI: 10.3109/15368378.2015.1089888PubMed: 27053339

Quick Questions About This Study

The case study documented how to establish permanent monitoring of ground current, how to determine and remediate on-farm and off-farm sources, which step-potential metrics relate to cow comfort and milk production, and how these metrics relate to established standards.
On-farm sources included lighting, variable speed frequency drives on motors, and a radio frequency identification system, while off-farm sources were due to a poor primary neutral return on the utility side of the distribution system.
The study found that a step-potential threshold of 1 V RMS at 60 Hz is inadequate to protect dairy cows, as decreases of a few mV peak-peak at higher frequencies increased milk production, reduced milking time, and improved cow comfort.
The study addresses three misconceptions: that the current standard of 1 V at cow contact is adequate, that frequencies higher than 60 Hz do not need to be considered, and that all sources of ground current originate on the farm with the problem.
Equipment that generates high-frequency voltage transients on electrical wires combined with a multigrounded electrical distribution system and inadequate neutral returns all contribute to ground current.