Wasting waste – survey shows slurry losses can add up
Dairy farmers could be losing up to 55 per cow a year by not maximising the fertiliser value of their slurry. Figures compiled from a survey carried out by Epizym at the Dairy Event this year reveal that farmers are buying in more bagged nitrogen than they need to for their acreage and herd sizes.
Managing Director of Epizym Stuart Aitkenhead was surprised by the results: While 43% of farmers surveyed felt they had no problems with slurry at all they are seemingly unaware that theyre not maximising their slurrys nutrient value which proper treatment and analysis can show, adds Stuart.
Nitrogen awareness
Agricultural consultant Giles Dadd explains. Its common knowledge that good slurry is full of N, P and K, essential for growth and so yield from crops. Slurry is free bar the time taken to mix and spread it. What farmers dont realise is that by using a proven slurry additive, the nitrogen content can be boosted by up to 25%.
The latest independent research into slurry additives comes from Kingshay, which trialled Epizym over a preliminary six week period and found the slurry additive to boost nitrogen content by 20.9% for total nitrogen and 35% for organic N.
A farm with say 100 cows employing typical dairy herd management techniques should be able to derive approximately 35% of their nutrient requirements from their slurry. Giles continues. Of course all farms are different and it must be stressed this is based on a typical farm situation. However, it illustrates the point that farmers shouldnt ignore what they cant see in terms of nutrients within slurry. For their own bottom line, its important that farmers know the value of their slurry and act to maximise this value through targeting timing, application method and crops before topping up with bought in fertilisers.
Analysis
Giles, a FACTs registered advisor, wasnt surprised by another finding from the survey, the fact that two thirds of respondents have never had their slurry analysed. Even the farmers who had analysed it had done so on a one-off basis, not as a regular process. I cant stress enough how some decent analysis, which costs only around 40, and proper treatment with an additive can save farmers thousands of pounds in terms of savings on spend on chemical nitrogen. And this is aside from time saved on the associated hassles around smell, crusting, leaf contamination, leaching, storage capacity, agitation, and so on.
As well as finding a statistically significant increase in total N and ammonium N, Kingshay, who trialled Epizyms slurry additive recently, also found the product reduced crust weight and increased bacteria three fold.
Increasing nitrogen is particularly important to anyone wanting to reduce their bagged nitrogen bill, continues Giles. Organic farmers are in a prime position to maximise in this way, being unable to purchase chemical nitrogen. Several organic farmers we spoke to and many of our organic customers are using slurry additives. They know its the best way to make the most of an extremely valuable on farm resource.
For more information on Epizym please call 0800 083 0614or visit www.epizym.com
Information:
The 55 figure quoted in the text is based on:
- Average soil P & K soils (Index 2)
- Average grass growing conditions
- Stocking rate of 1.9 cows/ha
- Milk yield 6 – 9,000 litres
- N for grazing – 310 kgs N/ha p.a.
- N for silage – 340 kgs N/ha p.a.
- 1150 cu. m. slurry to be spread to give 2100 kgs usuable N, 2600 kgs P2O5 and 4600 kgs K20 worth 5540 from 100 cows.
About Epizym Ltd
Epizym Ltd was established in 1997 and provides natural solutions to organic waste streams. Core products are Epizym Pigs and Epizym Cattle. www.epizym.com