Economic evaluation of a range of options for the management of soiled water/dilute slurry on Irish dairy farms

Willie Ryan, Padraig French, Dennis Minogue, Eimear M. Ruane and Laurence Shalloo

International Journal of Agricultural Management, 2014, vol. 03, issue 2, 13

Abstract: Dairy soiled water (DSW) is water collected from concreted areas, hard stand areas and holding areas for livestock that has become contaminated by livestock faeces or urine, and parlour washings and must be managed in compliance to the Nitrates Directive S.I.610.2010. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the economic outcomes from a range of options for the management of DSW on Irish grass based dairy production systems. The management options evaluated were DSW stored separately for 10 days, DSW recycled using a woodchip and a sand filter, and DSW mixed together with slurry. The different options investigated centred around contrasting methods of DSW storage and application. The overall mean net costs for storage, treatment and application were €242, €1536 and €849 respectively . The mean savings were €15 per cow across management options, consisting of savings from fertiliser, water, increased herbage DM production. The management option of storing DSW with slurry had higher savings compared to MO1 and MO2, which were attained from extending the grazing season length, using low cost storage and application methods combined with strategic application during the growing season for optimum NFRV and DM response.

Keywords: Farm Management; Livestock Production/Industries; Resource/Energy Economics and Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:ijameu:200240

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.200240

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