New products and research

The slurry additive Epizym has performed well in a trial conducted by Kite Consulting to look at improving slurry utilisation, reducing odours and eliminating crusts.

David Levick, managing partner for Kite, says the trial on a dairy farm in Staffordshire showed treatment with Epizym increased total N by 5 per cent and ammonium N by 21 per cent within the slurry.

This is a result of the bacteria in the product feeding on the slurry, digesting high molecular weight compounds such as proteins and starch to a lower weight, thus lifting the solids in the suspension.

This produces a more liquid and homogenous mix, increasing the first year availability of nutrients, namely ammonium nitrogen and water-soluble phosphorous, and reducing odours.

Giles Dadd of Epizym says: "The farmer manages 140 cows. At the start the tank was approximately 25 per cent full with a crust on top. The store was then re-circulated in order to obtain a composite sample of the slurry for analysis.

"The correct amount of Epizym was applied and eight weeks later the slurry in the tin tank was re-circulated and a further sample taken. At this stage it was noticeable the slurry was a more consistent liquid mix and the odour was greatly reduced."

Benefits

In this trial the product cost £480 for the winter and gave the following financial results:

• Reduced agitation time saving £180 per mixing; mixing is done three times a year, potentially saving £540 per year.
• Increased ammonium nitrogen content has a direct comparison of 1,021kg for 140 cows, valued at £1,021. The liquefaction process also makes more phosphate available in the year of application, which can be measured and fertiliser application consequently reduced, valued at £453.
• Higher potential volume of slurry produced through the liquefaction process, where the bacteria turn some of the dry matter into water through the respiration process.

This is difficult to assess accurately but has been predicted to be around 7 per cent, giving an extra £381 worth of ammonia N for the herd.

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