A study was conducted by the scientists from the Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, India. The study shows that on-farm cattle waste management with the use of constructed soil pits with partial ventilation according to the NADEP Technology and production of biogas from waste will help to control methane load in the atmosphere in India.

If funding for construction of such waste pits and community biogas production units is available at each village of six hundred twenty four district of India, there will not only be reduction in methane emissions but India may become self-sufficient in energy resources.

This will also contribute to enhance the fertility and water holding capacity of soil which promotes agricultural economy and reduction in use of chemical fertilizers.

“We saw this as an economic and environmental management tool. It's helped to diversify our farm.” - Bill Rowell

Converting manure into:

• Biogas: Creating electricity to power 300-350 area homes
• Bedding
• Fertilizer

The effluent treatment system INTA Rafaela was developed considering two sustainability management principles: to implement practices to reduce effluent generation, and to define a treatment system and final destination of effluents, taking into account legal and environmental aspects.

The steps are:

• Water from the cooled plate is stored in a tank and is used as drinking water and for cleaning floors.
• Effluents are collected in a chamber and pumped to a screen where it retains a large fraction of the solids. The resulting liquid fraction flows by gravity to a triple treatment lagoons. After the effluent passes through a filter of stones, and stored for use in washing the floors of poultry (50% recovered from the effluent generated).
• The solids recovered (130kg manure per 100 milk cows) on the screen are stored in the beach area and then distributed in the field.

For more information see the file below.

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) test for farm yard manure:

• Joint Industry and Government collaboration
• This project aimed to develop rapid, reliable and accurate procedures for the analysis and characterisation of farm manures and other organic materials. The techniques developed will make a significant contribution towards the improved and sustainable recycling of organic residues in farming with reduced environmental emissions. It will aid decision-making on utilisation to maximise nutrient availability and uptake by crops and minimise the chances of both gaseous emissions and leaching.
• Project completed: March 2011

This DairyCo funded review considered all available research information and developed clear guidance on the management of slurry and farm yard manures on pastures containing optimal levels of clover. This review details how dairy farmers can maximise fertiliser potential, plant performance and reduce environmental impact. The findings will be incorporated into current DairyCo literature.

• Project completed: Winter 2010

See picture

The engineers of the farm developed and implemented the complete cycle of manure processing for the farm “Proctor” designed for the 1200 milk cows’ herd.

At the farm, the technology of manure separating on solid and liquid fractions is used. When separated manure is applied as fertilizer on the fields, the nutritive loses (NPK) are minimal, silage are not contaminated, there is not crust on the fields’ surface.

The engineers of the farm developed and implemented the complete cycle of manure processing for the livestock farm “Dmitrova Gora” designed for the 1600 milk cows’ herd.

Application of the technological method of bedding production from the solid manure fraction enables to economize on provision, warehousing, storage of traditional bedding materials and to solve the main ecological problem on a farm - manure utilization.

The engineers of the farm developed and implemented the complete cycle of manure processing for the livestock farm “Agrosouse” designed for the 1400 milk cows’ herd.

The technology of manure separating on solid and liquid fractions is applied at the mega farm.

Divided fractions are used as organic fertilizer, as a result contamination of agricultural lands and waste water is completely eliminated.

“It is our mission to produce one of nature’s greatest products, milk, in a safe and environmentally friendly way. We will do this in a cost-effective manner that will ensure our long-term success in the dairy industry.” - John Vrieze

Managing waste through:

• NuWay™ system, which breaks down cow manure into re-usable elements.

“We’ve been practicing integration, trying to close the loop on our farm becoming as efficient as possible in the way we do things and use fuel… we’re just beginning to focus and discover what we can do.” - Bob Foster

Practicing sustainability through:

• Aerobic digester
• Composting

“The paddock is now productive and we’re conserving resources by recycling much of our water,” (Libby Swan)

Achieving better manure management and water savings through:

• Installation of new effluent ponds
• Processing and filtering water to be used for irrigation

“We’re a lot more environmentally aware these days. We have a lot more knowledge, more tools, and we’re using them.” - George Borba, Jr.

New technologies including:

• Plastic covers to limit silage emissions
• Vacuuming and recycling manure from barns to fertilize crops
• Water re-use for crop irrigation

Resumen Ejecutivo

El objetivo de este proyecto es implementar un digestor anaeróbico para el tratamiento de las corrientes de desechos provenientes del tambo existente en la Estación Experimental Agropecuaria (EEA) que el INTA posee en Rafaela, de forma que optimizar el tratamiento existente, obtener una fuente renovable de energía y pueda servir como experiencia piloto para otros establecimientos de la región. Actualmente, en la EEA de Rafaela existen 250 vacas lecheras que son ordeñadas en el tambo dos veces por día. Se recolectan diariamente 625 kg de estiércol. El mismo, en conjunto con otras corrientes de desecho del tambo, se envía mediante una corriente líquida hacia el tratamiento de efluentes. Se propone a través del presente proyecto la construcción de dos digestores de 23 m3 cada uno para el tratamiento de residuos y efluentes generados. Se estima la producción de 4.85 kg de CH4/d (12.3 m3 de biogás/d), el cual será utilizado para calefaccionar las instalaciones del establecimiento, sustituyendo parte del combustible fósil utilizado actualmente. Se procura un ahorro de 2.000 kg de Gas Licuado de Petróleo (GLP) al año Considerando que la producción de leche de las provincias de Santa Fe, Córdoba y Buenos Aires es cercana al 80% sobre el total de producción del país, el impacto potencial del proyecto sobre el las explotaciones lecheras tendrá una proyección importante para la implementación de este tipo de sistemas en un futuro cercano.

• La tecnología utilizada para la producción de pasturas, y también gran parte de los silajes, requiere de una proporción baja de insumos variables (fertilizantes, etc.) y en los últimos años, con la difusión de la siembra directa, se ha minimizado el laboreo de los suelos, mejorando al mismo tiempo sus propiedades físicas (penetración y retención de agua, principalmente).
•  El pastoreo directo en gran parte de las fincas durante prácticamente todo el año garantiza además que las cuestiones de bienestar animal no entren en conflicto con el modelo productivo lechero que se practica en Argentina.

• The geography of Chile dictates that the types of dairy production are dictated by latitude and elevation.
• There are concerns with inappropriate effluent management and associated pollution of watercourses which are used for domestic and industrial water supply and are fed from the Andes.
• Better management of water, solids and energy is essential given the nature of Chilean water catchments.
• The following show sections of a dairy effluent manual prepared by Soprole and the Chilean Development Agency. This manual was prepared for Chile based on Australian waste management practices.

• 98.7 per cent of Fonterra dairy farmers are guided by a nutrient budget – enabling better use of fertilizer and less nitrate / nitrous oxide loss to water / air
• 1 per cent per annum improvement since 1990 in kg of CO2 equivalent per kg milk solids produced because of better cows, better fodder and better farming