TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF LIQUID COMPOSTING

As a consequence of stiffening legislation for environmental control, livestock producers are coming to realize that how they handle manure removal, drainage, and odor control (or lack thereof) is no longer their decision alone. While providing a solution to an immediate problem of odor control, the dairy farmer is beginning to become aware that in the future he may be required to produce an effluent which could be discharged to the nearest stream or lake. The De Laval Separator Company has developed a liquid composting system for deodorizing, pasteurizing, biologically decomposing, and chemically purifying dairy cow waste. The theory of liquid composting is discussed and several modes of LICOM™ System operation are described. Particular emphasis is placed on a description of a completely automated manure handling and treatment system operating at an 80-cow, free-stall dairy barn. Data covering 24 months of operation are presented.