Dairy farmer Perry Beard is delighted to have found a single solution to two slurry problems he was facing on his farm near Gloucester. “It’s rare to find a product that does exactly what it says on the tin (or tub in this case), but this one does”.

Perry, who farms 140 plus followers, was initially motivated to take action by the stubborn crust on his lagoon. “During a conversation with a farm supplies distributor, I complained about the crust on my lagoon and the fact that it was taking a long time to stir,” he says. “Smell had also become an issue, as I’m right on the outskirts of a village. Some years prior I’d had complaints about smell when I was spreading the slurry onto the land.”

It was suggested he try a slurry digester to help with both the smell and the crust problems. “I thought, why not try it once, because if it works, I’ll have two problems solved in one go. If it didn’t work, I wouldn’t have wasted much money at it anyway.”

Perry emptied his lagoon in September and put Epizym’s cattle slurry additive into it in November, when it only had a small amount of slurry in it. “After a few weeks, I could see a noticeable difference in the crust – it had halved in thickness. When the umbilical contractors came, I didn’t tell them about using the Epizym. However, the difference in the slurry was so apparent, they commented on it as well as on the reduction in smell when spreading.”

Slurry is now treated as a valued asset on Perry’s farm, not a waste product. Epizym’s agricultural contractor Giles Dadd explains. “Trials have proved treatment with Epizym increases fertiliser value by up to 50% as it frees up the nitrogen and phosphate in slurry. Perry uses it after the 1st cut silage instead of bagged fertiliser - saving him buying three or four tons.”

Perry’s also pleased with other savings, though some are hard to quantify. “I’ve definitely saved on time and diesel. Another thing I’m keen to save myself from is hassle, and the reduction in smell has eliminated complaints from neighbours.” Epizym has been proved by Silsoe’s Olfactometer unit to halve gaseous emissions. 

“It’s money well spent” says Perry.  “I mentioned it to my neighbour. He tried it and now uses it regularly. The key is having an open mind and giving it a try. It’s well worth the money and has greatly eased slurry management and saved me money on my farm.”

Farmers wanting more information on Epizym products should call 0800 083 0614 or visit www.epizym.com