Selecting and Siting Poultry and Livestock Manure Storage ...

Introduction

If you raise livestock (beef cattle, dairy cows, goats, sheep, horses, alpacas, e.t.c.) or poultry (broiler chickens, layers, turkey) for income or a hobby, you will have to deal with the manure they produce. The amount of manure produced by the birds or animals you keep depends on their type, age, size, and diet. Tables 1 and 2 present the manure characteristics of various animal types, compiled by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, that can be used to assist in planning and designing systems to handle, treat, and use manure if values for local farms are not available.

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Manure storage is part of the nutrient management plan on properties where animals and/ or poultry are raised. Manure should be considered a resource – not a waste to be discarded. Manure contains valuable organic matter and nutrients that can be used as a fertilizer and/or to produce energy. Manure will accumulate quickly and must be properly managed to minimize the potential for causing nuisance from odors and contamination of surface water and groundwater if entrained in runoff during rainfall events. Manure storage allows a strategic approach to manure application by providing livestock and poultry owners the flexibility for scheduling application or use that takes advantage of the resources in the manure. This publication presents some guidelines to consider for selecting and locating manure storage structures on livestock and poultry farms.

Table 1. Estimated typical manure characteristics as excreted by meat-producing livestock and poultry

Why Store Manure?

Manure is stored so that it can be used effectively as a fertilizer to produce crops, decrease handling costs, and minimize the potential to pollute the environment. Storage allows effective use of manure nutrients when applied at a time when nutrients can be available to crops (before planting and on actively growing pastures) and soil conditions are right. When manure is applied at agronomic rates, you get the maximum benefits of manure as a fertilizer and reduce the risks of groundwater and surface water contamination from nutrients and pathogens that may be contained in the manure.

The properties of manure can change over time due to natural degradation processes or the loss of volatile compounds. Manure storage keeps manure in one location, making it convenient to sample for content analysis to determine its fertilizer value (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). When sampling manure, be sure to obtain a representative sample. This information – combined with knowledge of the crop production needs (amount of manure applied per acre) and corresponding losses of nutrients because of application and storage – determines whether additional commercial fertilizer is needed to meet realistic crop production goals.

Adequate manure storage reduces the need for land application when weather and soil conditions are not favorable, i.e., during winter months when soil is saturated or frozen. This improves efficiency, saves wear and tear on equipment, conserves nutrients contained in the manure, and minimizes manure nutrient leaching and runoff. Storage may allow additional farm acreage to be used for manure spreading because applications can be made when the risks of leaching or runoff are minimized.

Types of Manure Storages

Manure storage type depends on how the manure is handled. Manure can be handled as liquid, slurry, semi-solid, or solid. The total solids (dry matter) and preferred method for manure application/utilization (figure 1) influence the choice of storage system.

Liquid Manure Storage

Used for manure with up to 10 percent solids content. Usually, water is added to make manure flow. Manure storage structures include belowground tanks or pits (either separate or under the animal housing), earthen storage ponds, and aboveground, fabricated concrete or steel tanks. Liquid manure is best handled with manure pumps, but gravity can also be used to transport liquid manure.

To produce liquid manure that can be handled with pumps, you may need to add dilution water or separate solids from the liquid. Keep in mind that adding water will increase the volume of material to be stored and separated solids will need to be handled separately. Manure with a solids content of less than 4 percent is best for pumping. Manure with solids content between 4 percent and 10 percent is sometimes called slurry. If you choose to use pumps to move liquid manure, check manure pump manufacturer recommendations for pump operation and for its appropriateness for the type of manure you want to pump. Liquid manure storages are suitable for operations where manure is flushed or scraped with the addition of some liquid, such as on dairy and swine farms.

Semisolid Manure Storage

Used for manure with 10 percent to 20 percent solids content. Semisolid manure may “stack” if some bedding is added, although semisolid manure will not stack as well as solid manure. Semisolid manure storage facilities include aboveground structures – with or without roofs – aboveground silos or rectangular tanks, earthen or concrete banks with concrete floors, and roofed vertical-wall structures. Uncovered semisolid and solid manure storages will need containment for any accidental leaks or runoff due to excessive rainfall events. This storage type is common in dairy cattle, swine, horse, and poultry operations.

Solid Manure Storage

Used for manure with 20 percent to 25 percent or more solids content. Solid manure can be stacked and is best handled with a scraper and front-end loader. Solid manure is common where bedding is added to absorb liquid or drain off liquid and allow it to air dry. Solid manure is common in dairy cattle, beef cattle, horse, sheep, and goat operations. Solid manure can be stored in roofed stacking structures, concrete or earthen-baked structures with concrete floors, picket dams (retain manure solids on one side but the liquid flows through the dam into storage or treatment), and bedded packs.

Typical Manure Storage for Different Animal Species

Dairy Cattle

Manure can be stored as liquid in a manure storage pit, tank, or earthen pond. Semisolid or solid manure can be stored in a stacked facility; solid manure can also be stored in a bedded pack. Milking-house wastewater and contaminated runoff must be stored as a liquid. Bedding plays an important role in determining the manure storage for dairy cattle. If sand is used as bedding, the manure storage will most likely be liquid.

Beef Cattle

Manure can be stored as solid in a bedded pack in a confinement area where bedding is added in sufficient quantities. Manure can also be stored as liquid or slurry, depending on its consistency. Solid manure can also be stored in dry stack structures.

Poultry

Litter from broiler and turkey operations is stored on the floor of the housing facility; when removed, it can be transported directly to the field for land application. If field conditions are not favorable, litter must be removed and stored outside the house in temporary or permanent structures as described in Storing and Handling Poultry Litter, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) publication 442-054. Manure from layers can be stored in a roofed facility. If it is wet, consider using a structural tank or earthen storage pond.

Swine

Swine manure is usually stored as a liquid or slurry. Manure storage can be in outdoor tanks, earthen pits or part of anaerobic lagoons used for manure treatment.

Sheep, Goats, and Alpacas

Manure from these animals can be managed as solids. Where animals are grown on the pasture, proper stocking, pasture rotation, and grazing management will assist in nutrient dispersion. For animals in confinement, manure is periodically removed by scraping for immediate land application or storage in stacks.

Horses

Horse stalls receive liberal beddings and so most manure is handled as solids. If possible, manure should be used from stalls daily if possible and land applied. Manure can be stored as solids in stack structures and/ or composted.

Planning a Manure Storage System

Plan a manure storage and management system carefully in order to ensure production efficiency, allow for future expansion, protect the environment, and meet regulatory guidelines. Some guidelines to use in planning and selecting a manure storage facility are discussed below.

Size/Capacity of Storage

The required capacity of a manure storage unit depends on the volume of the manure, volume of bedding and other waste streams, extra storage depth required for freeboard and precipitation, and length of time the manure will be stored. The Virginia Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) provides guidelines on how to properly size storage structures. The document is available at: https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/api/CPSFile/528/313_VA_CPS_Waste_Storage_Facility_. A brief description of what to consider when sizing the storage unit is listed below.

Manure, Wastewater, Wasted Feed, Bedding and Other Recoverable Material

Manure volume depends on animal age, species, diet, and other factors. The size of the animal affects the amount of manure produced. In general, the larger the animal, the more manure it produces. Manure production characteristics of different animals are provided in tables 1 and 2. Other sources of waste include spilled feed, overflowed drinking water, cleansers, medicines, hair, etc., that may be included in the manure and must be taken into consideration when designing storage facilities. Reduce other sources of waste when possible because they increase production costs (e.g., additional feed to account for spill, loss of clean water) and may be hard on equipment.

Increase the storage size according to the quantity of other sources of waste to be stored. When possible, actual quantities of bedding and drinking water losses should be used in the design calculations. Include the volume of milking-center wastewater for dairy farms and water for cleaning buildings between cycles for hogs. This amount varies from farm to farm, and the actual volume used on the farm should be measured and used in the design of the storage tank.

Precipitation and Runoff

Extra storage depth must be provided to allow for precipitation and mandatory freeboard. This is usually based on normal precipitation less the evaporation on the surface area of the storage facility, and the 25-year, 24-hour rainfall on the surface of the facility. The 25-year, 24-hour rainfall information can be obtained from Virginia NRCS offices or at the following web- site: www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/hydrology.html. Include the volume of normal runoff and the 25-year, 24-hour runoff from the facility’s drainage area during the storage period. Minimize the discharge of nonpolluted runoff into the storage structure.

Once the capacity of the required storage is known, the dimensions of the storage structure can be calculated.

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Where to Locate a Manure Storage Facility

Consider all farmstead operations, locations of build- ings and potable water wells, surface waters, future building expansions, prevailing winds, trees, and neighbors. Locate, size, and construct storage facilities for convenient filling and emptying and provide an all- weather access road.

Minimum separation distances from points of interest listed in table 3 should be observed. All efforts should be made to meet current Virginia recommendations and regulations.

Slurry separation is an increasingly popular method for making slurry management on farms more efficient and sustainable. But why separate slurry in the first place and what are the benefits of this process? In this article, we explain why separating slurry into solids and liquid is a sensible decision for farmers and how it can improve operations.

What is slurry separation?

Slurry separation is the process of separating slurry into two main components: the liquid and the solids. While the liquid mainly contains nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the solids can be reused, for example as compost or bedding. The entire process helps to increase nutrient efficiency while reducing waste on the farm.

The advantages of manure separation

Slurry separation is not just a technical measure, but a strategic step towards more sustainable and efficient farming. By separating the manure into thin slurry and solids, farmers open up numerous new possibilities for utilising the manure. This method not only optimises the nutrient cycle, but also helps to conserve resources and reduce costs in the long term.

At a time when efficiency and sustainability are becoming increasingly important, slurry separation is an ideal solution for both increasing yields and reducing the burden on the environment. But what exactly makes manure separation so valuable? Here are five key benefits that slurry separation brings to your farm.

1. efficient utilisation of nutrients:

By separating the slurry, valuable nutrients can be applied to the fields in a targeted and precise manner. The thin slurry contains a high concentration of fast-acting nitrogen, which is absorbed more quickly into the soil through separation and leaves less feed contamination on the field. Due to the high proportion of organically bound nitrogen, the solids can be used as a slow-release fertiliser and return carbon to the carbon cycle. As a result, yields increase and the need for reseeding and herbicides is reduced.

2. reuse of the solids:

The solids that remain after slurry separation can be used in a variety of ways. They can be finely spread on the field and thus additionally support the fertilising effect. They can also be fed into slurry biogas plants or used as bedding.
 

3. reduced feed contamination:

Thanks to its improved flowability, thin slurry is absorbed more quickly into the soil, which minimises nutrient losses and protects the environment. In addition, the thin slurry significantly reduces contamination of forage and crops, which can prevent burns to the plants.

4. increased storage capacity:

By separating the solid part from the slurry, you get up to 20% new storage volume in your slurry tank. This reduces storage and subsequent transport costs, as the nutrient content per tonne of slurry increases.

5. improvement of the nutrient balance and environmental impact:

Excess nutrients can be released in a targeted manner, for example to arable farms or biogas plants. This improves the nutrient balance and at the same time reduces the environmental impact - manure separation thus makes an important contribution to sustainable agriculture.

Why is slurry separation important for the future of agriculture?

Agriculture is under increasing pressure to operate in a more environmentally friendly and resource-saving way. Separating liquid manure offers a valuable solution for making the farm more sustainable. By using manure efficiently as a fertiliser and reducing waste, agriculture can reduce its ecological footprint and increase productivity at the same time.

By separating manure, farmers can not only improve their operational efficiency, but also reduce their long-term operating costs and optimise their environmental footprint. The trend is towards a circular economy, and manure separation is a step in the right direction.

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Customised slurry separation - find the ideal separator for your requirements

Separating slurry is an efficient solution for optimising the use of resources on your farm and protecting the environment. Our slurry separators enable you to utilise the nutrients from the manure in a targeted manner and at the same time reuse waste products in a sensible way.

However, not every separator is the same - the choice of the right device depends on many factors, such as the slurry requirements of your farm, the medium (e.g. pig slurry or cattle slurry) and the required throughput rate. In addition, aspects such as the dry substrate content and the mobility of the machine must be taken into account.

To ensure that you find the right model for your requirements, we recommend a personal consultation. Our experts will help you compare the different separators we offer and choose the right solution for your business - whether it's for an agricultural facility, a contract operation or a biogas plant.

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