More Information:

Slurry

The Control of Pollution (Silage, slurry and Agriculture Fuel Oil) Regulations 1991 defines slurry as:-

1. excreta produced by livestock whilst in a yard or building; or
2. a mixture consisting wholly or mainly of such excreta, bedding, rainwater and washings from a building or yard used by livestock or any combination of these; of a consistency that allows it to be pumped or discharged by gravity at any stage in the handling process.

The British Standard definition is a mixture of animal excreta, urine and water of a consistency that allows it to be pumped or discharged by gravity. Slurry may also contain quantities of bedding, feed wastes, disinfectants, medication residues, silage and dairy washing waters. If left undisturbed in a tank slurry will normally separate into three components: a bottom layer of sediment, a middle region of liquid relatively free of suspended solids and a surface crust made from fibrous material

Transfer channels for slurry

Slurry with little or no bedding content can be transported from the collection place to a storage facility or reception pit, using transfer channels.

For cattle slurry, these channels are normally 1 metre wide and 1 metre deep with a level base and a 150 millimetre lip at the emptying end of the channel to keep a layer of liquid in the base for lubrication. The longest channel is typically 25 metres wide.

Under-floor storage for slurry

Pig slurry is commonly stored below the slatted floor of the housing facility for 4-8 weeks. If extra storage is needed it should be outside the pig house. Cattle slurry can also be collected and stored under-floor as long as it does not have too much bedding or waste feed in it. Building methods included reinforced and rendered concrete block walls on a concrete base, reinforced concrete made on site or ready made sections

See also:

• Slurry, SEPA leaflet
• Managing Livestock Manures 1 - making better use of livestock manures on arable land, ADAS & Defra
• Managing Livestock Manures 2 - making better use of livestock manures on grassland, ADAS & Defra
• Managing Livestock Manures 3 - spreading systems, ADAS & Defra
• Managing Livestock Manures 4 - managing manures on organic farms, ADAS & Defra
• Manure Management Plan, Defra
• Summary of the guidance for farmers in NVZs, Defra
• Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water, Air and Soil, Section 4.3, Defra