Finding a solution for the future to the scarcity of straw
In recent years, the scarcity of straw has become an increasingly important subject. Many farmers use straw as bedding during the winter period, but in some years straw is in short supply
These shortages naturally lead to an increase in the price per ton
Several factors can affect the price:
- A drier climate, affecting the production of cereals, and therefore of straw per hectare. In a survey carried out by “Web-agri” in August 2020, 68.8% of breeders considered the harvest insufficient to meet their annual needs.
- Reduction of sown areas
- New uses such as, for example, methanation
- The cost of diesel, affecting the cost of straw (pressing, transport, etc.) and the cost of transport
- The increase in the cost of equipment
In some regions, depending on the year, the cost per ton can even be around 140€.
Slurry as a basis for compost
Faced with this price tension, and the uncertainty for the years to come, some farmers prefer to anticipate and find alternative solutions.
The best known alternative solutions are wood chips, straw flour, miscanthus, straw from other crops, etc.
Another solution is gaining in popularity : litter produced from slurry. This solution turns out to be more economical and more comfortable for the cows. Dairy farmers know that cow comfort is essential to ensure or even increase production. This solution can therefore allow you to reduce your costs and increase your dairy performance while limiting your veterinary costs.
In order to obtain this finished product, the slurry first passes through a phase separator. The objective of this process is to harvest the solid phase on the one hand, and the liquid phase on the other. This step reduces pit storage by up to 30% since only the liquid phase needs to be stored. On the other side, the solid phase with a rate of 40% dry matter is recovered and incorporated into a composting drum. The solid phase remains in this drum for a period of 24 to 72 hours depending on the final destination of the compost. This step is crucial in order to obtain a healthy product. By healthy, we mean a product free from pathogenic bacteria.
According to European law, when the compost remains on the farm, 24 hours are sufficient, while for resale, 72 hours are necessary.
The BouMatic solution: The BCS (BouMatic Composter Solution)
Our BouMatic Composter Solution creates the ideal environment for aerobic bacteria to grow and mineralize organic compounds. No external heat is supplied to the system for the fermentation process. The solids self-heat to 70°C thanks to exothermic aerobic fermentation, in compliance with European regulations on hygiene. During sanitization, composting parameters such as temperature, humidity can be monitored and adjusted from the control unit with the touch screen, or remotely via the Internet or a Smartphone.
A low electrical energy requirement is necessary to obtain a valuable and healthy product. The BC Series composting system is comprised of a special Heavy Duty (HD) separator that separates solids down to a specific moisture level with a dry matter content of approximately 40%. After the hygienisation process, the dry matter rate will be around 50%.
