MicroZyme - Slurry Problem Solved

3rd October 2011

On many livestock farms where slurry is stored during winter months the accumulation of solids in the slurry store that eventually form a crust is a problem. Aeration and agitation is often not enough.

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The difficulty usually arises in the spring when the slurry store is emptied. The liquids are easily pumped out and injected into grassland or ploughed into the soil before sowing spring crops such as forage maize.

One dairy farmer who experienced such a problem was Anthony Gibbon of Garreg Farm, Kidwelly, Dyfed, West Wales. Garreg Farm is a four hundred acre all grass farm supporting 300 cows of which two hundred and seventy are in milk at any one time. During the summer months the cows are out by day and housed at night and during the winter they are housed night and day until turnout. As they are housed over a slatted floor there is a considerable amount of slurry to be stored and spread.

The shed with slats was erected eleven years ago and for many years there was no problem although Anthony was aware of a build up of solids. This was despite the installation of an aeration system.

Then, two years ago the situation had become serious, with a build up of solid matter to a depth of 8ft. and a crust of 3-4ft. Anthony contacted Richard Phillips of Micron Bio-Systems for help. After visiting the farm and assessing the problem Richard recommended the product MicroZyme.

MicroZyme is a biological product formulated specifically for the reduction of solids in slurry lagoons and storage pits. Usually this product would be used as the slurry store starts to fill so that solids do not accumulate or a crust be allowed to form. Manufactured in the UK by Micron Bio-Systems, MicroZyme is a cocktail of bacteria and enzymes that speeds up the degrading of manure solids during storage. This action reduces or prevents the formation of crust formation resulting in reduced odour production and increased Nitrogen retention. The reduced odour is an important factor in the cows’ health and wellbeing plus the increased retention of Nitrogen is a valuable resource as purchased N is becoming increasingly expensive.

It was in the autumn of 2010 Anthony began using MicroZyme and continued to apply to the slurry throughout the winter months. However, it was not until the following spring (2011) that the full benefits were realized. In early May the contractor duly arrived and began pumping out the store.

Both Anthony and his contractor were surprised at the quantity of liquid and absence of solid matter. Anthony said, “The quantity of slurry without either solids or surface crust was unbelievable”.
MicroZyme is available in 400g packs, manufactured by Micron Bio-Systems of Bridgwater and distributed through approved retailers.