Testimonials
James Rogerson, Game Farm, Singleton Lancashire
"I've never been able to empty my slurry tank so consistently low since using SlurryBugs"
"When spreading the slurry back onto land it disappears into the soil very quickly meaning cows can graze soon after"
David Holt, Knightshulme Farm, Middlewich
"The last fertiliser I bought was in 2007"
At Knightshulme Farm David Holt is using SlurryBugs + Booster inoculant to treat slurry from his 120 cow herd for the third consecutive winter because it is bringing significant savings. "When I first heard of this new product I was rather sceptical, but I was aware that slurry had the potential to be enhanced and so I went about asking three more farmers, including a pig producer, who had already tried and tested the inoculant and found it to be working really well," he explains.
"So we decided to bite the bullet. For starters we've found the inoculant is bringing real savings to the fertiliser bill; we make a total of 200 acres of grass silage and we've been able to reduce nitrogen applications by at least 50% - we're now applying 22 units N per acre to first cut swards, 44 units N per acre to second cut and none to third cut.
"We are also making savings in power because the slurry is better to handle. We used to aerate the slurry on a frequent basis, however that's no longer required because the inoculant is helping to convert the solid material into an easier to a consistent spreadable liquid nutrient."
He adds: "For relatively very little outlay and effort, we are making big savings and the inoculant is helping us to make more from our own natural resources, factors which have to bode well for our farm's future sustainability."
Using his inoculated slurry, David finds he grows more grass during the season, which was particularly noticed later in last season where it grew more consistently and for longer. His fourth cut harvested on 10th October 2010 shows the quality which can be offered by grassland in late autumn.
He explains: "In late October 2011 the fields offered 3" to 4" of grass for grazing. I am not an organic farm because I don't like weeds but we can all learn a lot from having the courage to make more use of our slurry and really test what its worth to us. You will have more high quality grass and healthier soils with worm casts. It is noticeable that there is more air in the soil."
The milk yields have increased and through better Crude Protein in his silage he has been able to change his cake from a 20% crude protein down to 18% which has resulted in a significant saving. Dry matter intakes have also increased, even after molasses was excluded from the ration this winter. David puts this down to the use of the silage additive Optimize Plus , he feels that it has encouraged larger appetites thus increasing forage intakes which are quite relevant at the moment.
David adds: "Introducing bugs to the slurry and the silage has led to huge savings. Farmers that don't have the courage to do what I did should treat their slurry and just try 20 acres with less fertiliser. If the cows are fed on a reasonably high input system, then there are enough nutrients in the slurry for the bugs to capture nitrogen and the other important nutrients. It is possible to do as I did and cut back the fertiliser by 2/3rds from the start, you will never know unless you try."
Robert and Nick Pocock, Idson Farm, Stringston, Bridgwater
"We've found improvements in the palatability of the grass following spreading"
The father and son team manage a 300 cow herd on two units amounting to 550 acres of relatively heavy clay soil type. Ave yield 8,300 litres; housing throughout lactation.
One of the Pococks' goals is to cut out bought in fertilizer and grow all their grass from slurry. Introducing the SlurryBugs + Booster inoculant to the unit’s 300,000 gallon storage tank is helping them to achieve that goal. So far the inoculant has helped to increase the slurry N content by 20% enabling them to cut back on the amount of bought in N by 20% per year and make similar accompanying savings to variable costs.
“The SlurryBooster automated system has reduced our bought in fertiliser costs significantly. The concept of the fully maintained and serviced automated system means our large pit, which is scraped into every day, is inoculated all the time giving much better results. There is also a noticeable improvement in the palatability of the grass following spreading."
Stuart Shepherd, Moons Farm, Garstang, Lancs
"There is little or no ammonia"
Stuart manages a 180 cow herd on 220 acres of largely heavy clay soil type. Average yield 9,400 litres; housing, throughout lactation.
One of Stuart’s goals is to substantially cut back on bought in fertilizer. He grows four silage crops, cereal whole crop and maize as well as adequate fresh grazing for his herd throughout the summer months. Introducing the SlurryBugs + Booster inoculant to the unit’s 100,000 gallon underground storage tank is helping him to achieve that goal. Since introducing the inoculant seven years ago, it has helped to increase the slurry N content by well over 20% enabling him to cut back on bagged fertilizer applications over the season by more than 20% allowing him to make accompanying savings to variable costs.
Aware of fixed cost savings, Stuart comments "I initially introduced the inoculant to improve the slurry’s consistency, but since then crusting and separation have ceased to be a problem and agitation has been minimised bringing savings in time, labour and fuel." He also now finds no incidences of rejection when applied to silage aftermaths for grazing.
Stuart has noticed the his slurry achieves longer term benefits to soil quality and nutrient availability as well as finding the soil which receives regular slurry maintains pH 6.00 requiring no lime. By increasing the slurry’s enhanced organic N status with SlurryBugs treatment the N is available in more slowly released format which is conducive to soil microbes and worms and encouraging their subsequent activity.
He comments “my large underground tanks used to be difficult to pump out due to crusting, since starting to use SlurryBugs the tanks stay liquid making them easy to pump, there is little or no ammonia and the nutrients in the slurry have helped to yield excellent crops each summer”.
David Phillips, Trebared Farm, Cardigan: 250 cow pedigree Holstein herd
“We can now depend totally on slurry for N,P and K"
David has found that introducing the SlurryBooster + SlurryBugs inoculation to the unit’s 500,000 gallon storage tank is contributing to fertilizer savings to his maize crop worth approximately £800 per year. In fact, the inoculated slurry has been enhanced to the extent he no longer requires to make artificial fertilizer applications to the 60 acre crop which has been grown in the same field for 10 years.
“We used to apply 50kg/acre ammonium phosphate down the spout, and a further 50kgs N units / acre top dressing. However since we’ve started to apply the inoculated slurry to the maize fields in the last six years, we began to realize that we were able to grow a high quality maize crop without any purchased fertiliser.
“We initially did our own trials, and applied a portion of the area of maize sown without any fertilizer and found that yield was the same as that area treated. The results gave us the confidence to stop all fertiliser applications.”
Last year David grew the late maturing variety, Ambrusini and the crop analysed 31.6%DM, ME 10.9MJ/kg DM, and 68.4%D.
He adds: “We can now depend totally on slurry for N,P and K. We are confident that the inoculated slurry is helping to improve the soil’s residual N and we are also taking samples of soil for analysis for P and K indexes which are being maintained at between 2 and 3.”
In 2008 Mr Phillips said “Since using Slurry Bugs in my slatted tanks, pumping is far easier which saves time and fuel. I only need to stir every 3rd emptying which means the nitrogen stays in the slurry instead of being lost as ammonia. The real value of the Slurry Booster System can be seen with my maize when I grow using only slurry for fertiliser. All fields in 2007 (a very wet summer) produced 20 tonnes per acre with the best at 34% DM, 36% starch. Now it is even more important to preserve the nutrients in the slurry and save on fertiliser costs.”
“We’ve saved on labour and fuel and we now have a slurry that lends itself to injection – it’s consistent and in spreadable form. In addition, odour has been naturally reduced. Furthermore, we’re aware that the bugs have helped to increase the slurry’s N content and we’ve made instant savings to the fertilizer bill; we’ve cut back on bagged nitrogen by 25 units N/acre across 200 acres of silage swards, I’m also aware from our silage analysis that sugar content has consistently improved.”
Roger Leach, Myerscough College, Lancs
"Soaring ammonium nitrate costs have led us to bring our fertiliser strategy under review."
“The results are very encouraging and we are continuing the research to monitor the improvements in N value. The trial findings are also very timely; soaring ammonium nitrate costs have led us to bring our fertiliser strategy under review."
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James Rogerson
David Holt
Mr Pocock
