Preserving Farming Heritage: Innovative Concrete Solution Extends Service Life at Silver Creek Angus Ranch
After more than five years of daily operation, the PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete feed mixing platforms at Silver Creek Angus Ranch have demonstrated significant durability. The untreated slabs prior to the installation of PENETRON ADMIX deteriorated quickly, requiring replacement within just six months.
Peter Crabtree, the fourth-generation owner of Silver Creek Angus Ranch, emphasized the ranch’s commitment to sustainable agriculture, stating, "For over 70 years, we've raised beef in a quiet corner of Kingston. Preserving our family's farming heritage is central to our mission, and we're expanding our outreach to promote sustainable agriculture throughout the community."
Most of the beef raised at Silver Creek Angus Ranch is served at the ranch's own restaurant, Crabtree Kitchen + Bar, while the rest is sold on the retail market. Each year, the ranch collects approximately 2.6 million pounds of spent brewery grains from Silver City Brewery in Bremerton, which feeds the herd of 60 cattle, with plans to increase to 80 cattle.
Initially, Crabtree and his team constructed concrete mixing platforms for blending brewery grains with cow feed, but these slabs failed quickly under exposure to low pH environments and the demands of mixing equipment. In October 2020, new mixing slabs were installed, treated with PENETRON ADMIX. Phil King, West Coast Region Sales Manager for PENETRON USA, explained that the slabs were water-cured for optimal strength and durability.
PENETRON ADMIX’s active ingredients create a robust crystalline network within the concrete, blocking water and chemicals from penetrating. Crabtree noted that the treated feed mixing slabs remain in excellent condition after five years, even in areas subjected to heavy wear from equipment. He stated, "Overall, the service life of our concrete slab has increased tenfold."
Silver Creek Angus Ranch exemplifies the role of innovative technology in agriculture, where PENETRON technology aids in maintaining operational efficiency and long-lasting infrastructure.