News article, 27. January 2022

Danish trial: slurry discharge can reduce carbon footprint

A trial by SEGES Innovation shows that there is a 35% reduction in methane emissions from slurry after a finisher producer started to discharge more often.

Photo: Danish Agriculture & Food Council

Collaboration between SEGES Innovation and a Danish pig producer regarding the regular discharge of slurry from finisher units shows that this has beneficial effect on methane emissions. The trial involved discharging slurry every week instead of every fifth week. Although this is a time-consuming process, it offers positive benefits in terms of the environment and the carbon footprint and for the use of slurry in biogas production. With the appropriate housing system, and an agreement with a biogas plant for regular slurry collection, it may well make sense to discharge more often. This, however, is not the case at all farms.

More frequent slurry discharge as part of the Danish agricultural agreement

The way in which farmers discharge their slurry differs from farm to farm, which is why costs also vary.

As part of the autumn’s Danish agricultural agreement, more frequent discharge is be carried out by all farmers. However, it has not yet been determined how the requirement for regular discharge will be carried out and controlled.

Reduced CO2 footprint

Regular discharge is understood to mean on a weekly basis and is estimated to have an effect of 170,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents.

Clear regulations on slurry discharge in Danish livestock production

The treatment and discharge of slurry from livestock production is strictly regulated under the Danish government’s order concerning livestock slurry. These regulations are designed to ensure that slurry discharge is not detrimental to the environment.