Manure is processed using several common technologies aimed at managing waste, reducing environmental impact, and sometimes recovering valuable resources.
According to information from Virtual Farm at PSU, a few common technologies used for processing manure include:
- Sand Separation: This process is used specifically when sand is used as bedding. It removes sand from the manure slurry, which can then be reused, while the remaining manure can be processed further.
- Composting: Composting is a natural biological process where organic material, like manure solids, is broken down by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen. This transforms the manure into a stable, nutrient-rich soil amendment called compost.
- Solid-Liquid Separation: This technology divides the manure into a solid portion and a liquid portion. This step is crucial because solids and liquids often require different handling and treatment methods. An example of equipment used for this is a Rotary screen solid-liquid separator. The liquid can be used for irrigation, while solids can be composted, digested, or used as bedding.
- Anaerobic Digestion: In this process, microorganisms break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. This produces biogas (a renewable energy source composed primarily of methane and carbon dioxide) and a nutrient-rich digestate.
These processing methods help farms manage manure more effectively, potentially creating valuable byproducts and reducing the environmental footprint of livestock operations.
