Buildings
Nutrient Management
Nutrient management is important throughout the pig production cycle. Good nutrition and production efficiency means expensive components of feed are optimally utilised rather than excreted. As world demand for raw materials, especially nitrogen rich proteins and phosphates, increases the need to use these most effectively and reduce losses (pollution) from the cycle is becoming ever more important.
Manures and slurries are no longer a “Waste” product for disposal, they are a valuable asset to be utilised. Loss as gaseous emissions, such as ammonia, or to water, nitrogen and phosphates can be minimised through the adoption of good practice.
Adding value from pig manures and slurries
Click here to find out more information.
Slurry Testing Video
This short video demonstrates on farm testing of pig slurry to determine its fertiliser value and how this can be calculated to include within a fertiliser plan.
Manure Testing
The nutrient content of FYM and slurries can vary considerably from the typical values presented in Defra’s Fertiliser Manual (RB209). Given this variability and the increasing cost of manufactured fertiliser it is worthwhile analysing nutrient content of representative samples of FYM and slurries.
BPEX, as part of a collaborative Defra LINK project have shown that Near Infra-red Reflectance Spectrometry (NIRS) can provide a low cost, rapid and reliable analysis of slurry and FYM samples. For more information on the project click here.
For more information on NIRS sampling and where you can use the service visit the Eurofins link.
DEFRA Manure Management Plan
The above DEFRA plan has been designed to help you produce a plan for spreading livestock
manures, slurries and organic wastes on your farm. This plan will help you to minimise the
risk of causing water pollution
Click here for a copy of the DEFRA Manure Management Plan
Diets and Nutrition
Good diet formulation and inclusion of components which ensure the feed is utilised effectively by the pig is important in reducing the environmental impact of production. This is recognised for example in the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive which requires dietary protein to match production needs.
Pig diets typically rely heavily on Soya beans as a key component, other protein sources are available and research is looking at the potential for home grown proteins and the overall environmental impacts. BPEX actively participates in these areas of research and development.
