Lancashire dairy farmer Edward Towers is reaping the benefits of improved slurry storage and management, with noticeable increases in grass yields.
Mr Towers, who milks 400 Holstein x Fleckvieh cows and manages up to 1,100 head of cattle at Holme Head Farm, Hornby, says enhanced slurry management has allowed him to reduce the need for purchased fertiliser while increasing grass production.
This year he has been able to harvest five cuts of silage across his 265ha grassland farm thanks to the near perfect growing and harvesting conditions and timely application of slurry.
Analysis of second cut silage revealed a dry matter of 29.7%, crude protein of 15.7%, ME of 11.2, sugars 1.5% and a D Value of 70.3. This is making up a vast proportion of the diet, with cows fed a TMR mix outside of the parlour and averaging 32 litres.
Edward’s latest investment is a concrete slurry pit with a capacity of 1.25 million gallons, which complements two smaller metal tanks, each holding 220,000 gallons. This improved storage system allows him to apply slurry at optimal times throughout the grass-growing season, to aid grass growth and reduce the need for bought-in fertiliser.
Slurry is generated from the 450 milking and dry cows, which are housed inside all year round, with some youngstock going outside. About 350 dairy beef cattle are also reared inside on the farm before being sold in the autumn.
A contractor applies the slurry via an umbilical system before the first cut and immediately after each subsequent cut of silage.
Due to the extra cut, Mr Towers, who farms alongside his wife Rebecca and four full and two part time staff members, even ran out of slurry. “We only had enough slurry to spread on half the land after the forth cut, and the difference in grass growth between the areas that received slurry and those that didn’t was striking,” he says.
Mr Towers also invests in optimising the quality of his slurry by adding a weekly dose of SlurryBugs into the slurry channel feeding the pit. This ensures the slurry remains homogenous and is proven to increase its nutrient value.
“We’ve been using SlurryBugs for 3-4 years, and we’ve seen a marked reduction in crust formation. The nutrient value of the slurry has also improved,” he explains.
Crust formation, he says, was previously costly, particularly when contractors had to spend extra time and equipment to mix it. “Before using SlurryBugs, it could take a full day for the contractor to mix the slurry, and they’d have to bring in a mixer. That’s a significant added cost, which we no longer have to deal with,” he adds.
SlurryBugs produced by specialist company EnviroSystems work by colonising the slurry store and breaking down any new fibrous material. The five strains of bacteria and fungi contained within SlurryBugs are unique and have been found to work most effectively on maximising the complex lignocellulosic biochemical pathways within slurry stores.
The bacteria secrete enzymes that break up the undigested fibre (cellulose and other plant matter), releasing soluble nutrients and making them available for spreading onto land, producing a more homogenous liquid slurry.
Two years of Defra-backed research found increases in the following nutrients in treated slurry: ammonium nitrogen +21%, phosphorus +48%, potassium +17%, and sulphur +31%. This is because organic materials are released into the slurry when the crust is broken down.
“Where the slurry has been going we have been getting a lot more grass growth,” adds Mr Towers. “We have also been able to reduce the amount of bought-in fertiliser we are applying due to the slurry working so well, which is a huge cost saving,” he adds.
Mr Towers beds his cows on EnviroBed, a 100% recycled paper crumble, after moving from sawdust and lime. This bedding material performs effectively in the slurry store, showing no issues with breakdown or application in the field.
Through innovative slurry management practices and the adoption of high-quality bedding, Mr Towers is not only enhancing grass yields but also ensuring a more sustainable and cost-effective operation at Holme Head Farm.
