3. Animal manure management systems

The animal waste management system can be described as a planned system with relevant components installed and managed to control and use by-products of animal production in a way that sustains and enhances the quality of air, water, soil, plant and animal resources (adapted from [10]). Animal manure management system is an integral part of the agricultural waste management system. Animals are raised under different systems of production and this influences the manure management systems and strategies adopted. Manure produced by animals managed in range and pasture lands is usually managed using strategies that are different from those employed for animals raised in confinement. Manure management is important because it significantly reduces the risks associated with manure handling and utilization. An efficient manure management system will limit or prevent manure or its constituents from gaining undesirable access to the larger environment. Sound manure management contributes to health and environmental, economic and social benefits (Table 3). A resource-efficient, socially inclusive and low-carbon economy is achieved by tapping into waste as a resource, extending the life cycle of valuable materials and increasing the use of secondary materials [11].

Several methods of manure management systems have been identified. Each system of manure management also has its own challenges particularly with the nutrient management (Table 4). The primary nutrients of concern as it affects animal manure are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium largely due to their importance in soil application. The concerns are associated with potential nutrient losses in storage and during handling as well as potential nutrient overload during land application. Due to limited land availability and lack of nutrient test to determine requirements before applications, soils applied with manure tend to have excess nitrogen and phosphorus [12]. The evidence of considerable losses of manure nutrients in storage is abundant [13] (Table 5). The basic functions of production, collection, storage, treatment, transfer and utilization associated with manure management systems must, therefore, be managed holistically to minimize nutrient losses, prevent pollution and other potential risks [10].

• Encourages changes in community attitudes and behaviors.

prevention actions, recovery and/or recycling activities

Associated benefit of sound manure management

• Minimizes the risks associated with the waste

• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions from waste

maintenance of ecosystem services. Social • Creates employment, including low, medium, and high-skilled jobs

addressing equity and poverty issues)

Table 3. Environmental, economic and social benefits of sound manure manage management.

• Improves occupational health

• Reduces litter and odor • Prevents the risks of flood

• Contributes to GDP

Economy • Increases business opportunities

Environment • Prevents the environmental impacts on air, water, soil, wildlife and the marine

• Protects human health in communities and at waste management facilities

Sustainable Animal Manure Management Strategies and Practices

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123

• Provides savings to businesses, especially in resource extraction and use, by waste

• Integrates and professionalizes employment in the informal sector (the route to

• Delivers more attractive and pleasant human settlements and better social amenity

• Achieves economic savings by improvements in human health and the environment, leading to higher productivity, lower medical costs, better environmental quality and the

In view of the variation in the situations in which the waste management system is incorporated, as a guide, the decision-makers' concerns, needs and objectives must be considered in planning the animal waste management system; the characteristics and annual production of the waste that would require management as well as potential future changes in the size of operation must be determined; the alternatives the decision-maker is willing to consider for utilization must be determined; the landowner's preference for equipment and location of the facility must be determined; and the design of the system should cover from the production to the utilization function level and must be put in place [9]. These considerations are germane to planning and designing the waste management systems for dairy, beef, swine, poultry and

other animals.

Sustainable development pillar

Source: Adapted from [11].

Establishing the goals of animal manure management systems is critical to its successful planning and implementation. The objectives of a manure management system could range from limiting the environmental impacts of manure handling, limiting manure nutrient losses and promoting its efficient use to regulatory compliance, regulating the timing of use in sync with the other uses of the manure resources and the generation of income.


Table 3. Environmental, economic and social benefits of sound manure manage management.

3. Animal manure management systems

Table 2. Characteristics of manure of farm animals (per 1000 lb. animal unit per day).

secondary materials [11].

Category of animal

122 Agricultural Waste and Residues

Swine manure

Poultry manure

Source: ASABE [8]; Barth et al. [9].

Weight (lb)

Moisture (%)

Total solids (lb)

Volatile solid (lb)

Finishing cattle 65 92 5.2 4.3 1.0 0.36–0.50 0.044–0.076 0.25

Gestating sow 25 90 2.5 2.3 0.84 0.16 0.05 0.11 Lactating sow 59 90 5.9 5.4 2.0 0.45 0.13 0.28 Boar 19 90 1.9 1.7 0.66 0.14 0.05 0.09

Layers 57 75 15 11 3.3 1.1 0.33 0.39 Broiler 88 74 22 17 5.3 0.96 0.28 0.54 Turkey toms 34 74 8.8 7.1 2.3 0.53 0.16 0.25 Turkey hen 48 74 12 9.8 3.0 0.72 0.20 0.31 Duck 102 74 27 16 4.5 1.0 0.35 0.50

Biological oxygen demand Nitrogen (lb)

Phosphorus (lb)

Potassium (lb)

(lb)

The animal waste management system can be described as a planned system with relevant components installed and managed to control and use by-products of animal production in a way that sustains and enhances the quality of air, water, soil, plant and animal resources (adapted from [10]). Animal manure management system is an integral part of the agricultural waste management system. Animals are raised under different systems of production and this influences the manure management systems and strategies adopted. Manure produced by animals managed in range and pasture lands is usually managed using strategies that are different from those employed for animals raised in confinement. Manure management is important because it significantly reduces the risks associated with manure handling and utilization. An efficient manure management system will limit or prevent manure or its constituents from gaining undesirable access to the larger environment. Sound manure management contributes to health and environmental, economic and social benefits (Table 3). A resource-efficient, socially inclusive and low-carbon economy is achieved by tapping into waste as a resource, extending the life cycle of valuable materials and increasing the use of

Establishing the goals of animal manure management systems is critical to its successful planning and implementation. The objectives of a manure management system could range from limiting the environmental impacts of manure handling, limiting manure nutrient losses and promoting its efficient use to regulatory compliance, regulating the timing of use in sync

with the other uses of the manure resources and the generation of income.

Several methods of manure management systems have been identified. Each system of manure management also has its own challenges particularly with the nutrient management (Table 4). The primary nutrients of concern as it affects animal manure are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium largely due to their importance in soil application. The concerns are associated with potential nutrient losses in storage and during handling as well as potential nutrient overload during land application. Due to limited land availability and lack of nutrient test to determine requirements before applications, soils applied with manure tend to have excess nitrogen and phosphorus [12]. The evidence of considerable losses of manure nutrients in storage is abundant [13] (Table 5). The basic functions of production, collection, storage, treatment, transfer and utilization associated with manure management systems must, therefore, be managed holistically to minimize nutrient losses, prevent pollution and other potential risks [10].

In view of the variation in the situations in which the waste management system is incorporated, as a guide, the decision-makers' concerns, needs and objectives must be considered in planning the animal waste management system; the characteristics and annual production of the waste that would require management as well as potential future changes in the size of operation must be determined; the alternatives the decision-maker is willing to consider for utilization must be determined; the landowner's preference for equipment and location of the facility must be determined; and the design of the system should cover from the production to the utilization function level and must be put in place [9]. These considerations are germane to planning and designing the waste management systems for dairy, beef, swine, poultry and other animals.


Source: Adapted from [14].

Table 4. Examples of manure management systems.


The concept of waste management hierarchy can serve as a guide in the choice of the appropriate waste management strategy, policy or options for adoption on the farm. The hierarchy is from the most preferred (avoidance of waste generation) to the least preferred (disposal) waste management options. The waste management hierarchy can be applied to animal manure

Manure management system Beef Dairy Swine Poultry

65– 80

50– 65

Attribute Applicability in animal manure management

35– 50

65– 80

50– 65

Manure treated in anaerobic lagoon or stored in waste storage pond after being diluted more than 50%

Table 5. Nutrient losses in various manure management systems (%).

hazardous materials in the design and manufacture of products. Develop strategies for cleaner and environmentally friendly production

Second most preferred option. Preventive. Actions to make changes in the type of materials being used for specific products. This approach contributes to effective savings of natural resources

The waste is collected during the production phase and fed back into the production process. Reduce the amount of wastes generated and the cost of

The waste materials are collected and processed, and used in the production of new products. The process

Predominantly assimilative and partly ameliorative. This is also called waste to energy conversion. Wastes are converted to usable energy forms such as

Disposal is the least preferred option in the waste management hierarchy and should be avoided.

Table 6. Waste management hierarchy and animal manure management.

Avoidance Most preferred option. Preventive. Use of less

Reuse Predominantly ameliorative and partly preventive.

Recycle Predominantly ameliorative and partly preventive.

heat, light, electricity, etc. Desirable.

Treatment Predominantly assimilative and partly ameliorative.

prevents pollution. Desirable.

production. Desirable.

Source: Adapted from [15].

Waste Management Hierarchy

Reduction of wastes

Energy recovery

Sustainable disposal

Source: Adapted from [16].

NP KNP KNP KNP K

70– 80

While the production of wastes cannot be completely eliminated in animal production, the

production can be made cleaner and

environmentally friendly

Applicable

Applicable

Applicable

Applicable

Applicable

Possible but not preferred

50– 65

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40– 50

70– 80

50– 65

40– 50

125

35– 50

Sustainable Animal Manure Management Strategies and Practices

management as shown in Table 6.

Desirable.


Table 5. Nutrient losses in various manure management systems (%).

Type of system

Dry lot storage

Slurry storage grazing

124 Agricultural Waste and Residues

materials

encouraged

Source: Adapted from [14].

structure

structure

lost

waste storage pond

usually in semi-liquid form

without the solids separated

Description Associated nutrient loss challenges

Manure management system Beef Dairy Swine Poultry

45

60

15– 30 5– 15 5– 15

25– 40

30 5– 15 5– 15

20– 30

20– 30

10– 20

30– 45

30– 45

10– 20

——— 20–

——— 25–

15– 30 5– 15 5– 15

30– 45 5– 15 5– 15

15– 30 5– 15 5– 15

25– 35

35 5– 20 5– 20

35 5– 20 5– 20

45

15– 30 5– 10 5– 10

10– 20

15– 25

10– 20

15– 25

Substantial nutrient losses especially nitrogen occur

Substantial losses of nutrient could occur, particularly through urine. Leaching and surface run-off can also

Volatilization losses are dependent on ventilation, depth of storage tanks and length of storage

Nitrogen, carbon and sulfur losses as a result of burning. High water content of slurry makes it

Manure used for construction is totally lost to

NP KNP KNP KNP K

30– 45

25– 30 5– 15 5– 15

25– 30

15– 30 5– 10 5– 10

20– 35

10– 20

30– 45

10– 20

——— 30–

——————

——————

45 5– 20 5– 20

10– 20 5– 10 5– 10

——————

———

———

———

Leaching through lagoon bottom, discharge into water surface and odor. High ammonia, and some methane

through leaching and volatilization

occur

difficult to handle

agriculture.

High losses of nutrients through leaching.

and nitrous oxide emissions may occur

Grazing Animals deposit manure directly on the field during

Kraals Animals are kept in enclosed land area to be used for cropping in the future on rotational basis.

Manure and urine are captured using bedding

Lagoon Liquid manure are treated in anaerobic lagoon with or

Fuel Manure are either burnt directly as fuel or handled anaerobically for biogas production

Others These could include plastering for house construction

and the use of manure as animal feed is not

Table 4. Examples of manure management systems.

Manure stored in open lot, cool, humid region 30–

Manure stored in open lot, hot arid region 40–

Manure liquid and solids in a covered, watertight

Manure liquid and solids in an uncovered watertight

Manure liquid and solids (diluted less than 50%) held in

Manure and bedding held in unroofed storage, leachet

Manure stored in pits beneath slated floor 15–

Manure and bedding held in roofed storage ——— 20–

and use as animal feed. These forms of uses are limited

Urine and feces are stored together and the manure is


Table 6. Waste management hierarchy and animal manure management.

The concept of waste management hierarchy can serve as a guide in the choice of the appropriate waste management strategy, policy or options for adoption on the farm. The hierarchy is from the most preferred (avoidance of waste generation) to the least preferred (disposal) waste management options. The waste management hierarchy can be applied to animal manure management as shown in Table 6.
