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Maximising the Value of Muck and Slurry

The听dung midden听is one of the most valuable commodities on a farm.听It is our easiest, most efficient and cheapest resource to听maintain听the farm鈥檚听nutrient听budget in good health.听Efficient recycling of the N, P and K from livestock manures will reduce the reliance on bought in mineral fertilisers, provide a substantial proportion of crop requirement for yield and听maintain听or improve soil P and K status.听

The听following table highlights the current nutrient value of听common muck and slurry types.听

One of the challenges facing听many听upland producers听and certainly听producers听in remoter areas and the听islands is providing enough straw for bedding.听The cost of getting that straw in the shed can be considerable which makes it more important to make best use of it when it comes out the courts after winter.听

A听farm running听around听100听suckler听cows听that听are overwintered in straw-bedded courts for a period of听around听200 days听(28 weeks)听would听typically听produce听over 1,000听tonnes听of FYM听(1,030t using published values)听equating听to听36t per week.听Using current fertiliser values and nutrient composition from the table听above,听we can value that 1,000 tonnes at 拢9,160.听

If听we were to spread听that 1,000t in spring onto cereal stubble听land,听ploughing down the day after application, we could cover some 66ha听whilst meeting听both听the P and K requirements of听a spring barley (feed) crop听(assuming moderate soil nutrient statuses) and providing about听7% of crop N requirements.听(~130:50:70 kg/ha听N:P2O5:K2O).听

Maximising the听available听nutrients

To make the best use of the readily available听nitrogen within听farmyard manure (FYM)听and slurry,听storage and timing of application听are important.听Rapid incorporation听into soils minimising the volatilisation of nitrogen听as ammonia gas into the atmosphere.听The table below听highlights the differences in听available nitrogen depending on timing of application and speed of incorporation听and can be used to听assist听you with听fertiliser planning and nutrient budgeting.听听

In Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ), nitrogen availability values听contained听withing听Scottish Government guidance must be used.听

Storage of FYM in high compact stacks in middens and leaving applications of manures until the springtime are therefore the best way to maximise the availability of听nitrogen and other nutrients, which help to support the growth of crops and grassland.听

For further information听and details of the nutrient content of other manures, follow the link听below听to Technical Note 736 below听on Scotland鈥檚听Farm Advisory Service听website.听

To get听accurate听analyses听for your own muck and or slurry and improve听the accuracy of your own nutrient planning,听contact your local SAC Consulting office for further details about听sampling and analysis.听

5 top tips听

1. Use full nutrient value of FYM and slurry听to provide significant savings in fertiliser costs for growing crops.听
2. Minimise volatilisation losses from FYM听and听slurry with rapid incorporation into soil.听
3. Correct storage of manures helps to reduce losses to the environment.听
4. Know your fields pH and nutrient status.听
5. Analyse your manures.听

Useful links听

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David Simpson, Senior Consultant,听David.Simpson@sac.co.uk听

Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/01/2026