Management of livestock manures in the U.K.

Abstract

Rising levels of water pollution in the 1980s led to the introduction of extensive pollution control legislation in the early 1990s supported by codes of practice specifically targeted at farming practices. Good practice is seen as recycling livestock manures to the land and farmers are encouraged to prepare a manure management plan for their farm, this includes establishing manure quantities, where and when safe spreading can take place, and how much storage is necessary for non-spreading periods. Treatment is not recommended other than a minimum storage period, four months in England and Wales, and six months in Scotland. Mechanical separation is used on some farms to aid management of slurry stores, and to improve handling in irrigation systems. Research at Harper Adams and SAC is centred on developing treatment processes and better nutrient utilisation, and this will help farmers to manage livestock manures in a future when there is likely to be ever-tightening legislation on pollution control.