Straw Bedding
During the last 10 years the directors of the company have visited many farms throughout the length and breadth of the British Isles. We have supplied product to the single farmer, those working for large farming groups and for agricultural colleges. The range of animals involved, include dairy and beef herds, pigs, chickens and even horses.
The one common factor we realised concerning all those are involved in the husbandry is the need for good, dry, pathogen free bedding that is also cheap to maintain and does not have a detrimental effect on the animals health nor that of the farmer in added costs.
In most cases we have demonstrated that the product performs so satisfactorily that it becomes a matter of re-ordering. Here are the features of our bedding product:
* Dries out bedding * Extends life of bedding
* Halves the need for ‘muck outs’ * Drastically reduces total bedding cost
* Kills pathogens and captures ammonia * Reduces run off and leaching problems
*Enhances quality of manure * EU accreditation for safe use
Savings
The product for bedding offers the farmer the best possible savings. You can actually hear what these are by checking out the videos. One farmer who has achieved virtually static somatic cell counts over many years has maintained a complete control over mastitis. He suggests that even if three of his ‘milkers’ are kept ‘healthy’ and still milking this covers the cost of using the bedding product. After that it’s all savings when it comes to the bedding and labour costs. The other dairy farmer saves on 192 bales of straw a year. At today’s prices this more than just pays him back for using Imtec product. These savings do not even include less expensive labour costs for far fewer muck out times and then half the time needed for the maturing of any manure. In the matter of slurry the use of this product which is so rich in nutrient, should greatly reduce the need for chemical fertilisation. Spraying to fields is easier and quicker with less head aches and hold ups due to malfunctioning pumping equipment. Here are the features of the product.
* Number of ‘muck outs’ at least halved * Animals far healthier.
* Less bills and fees * All round labour savings
*Enhanced manure * Reduced maintenance of equipment.
Nitrates Directive
As regards integrated pollution control there is much to offer with use of our product. It will ensure that all holding or storages areas are perpetually used to the maximum and any channel or pipe system and any pumping facility to the land will operate with ease. However there is more to offer that enhanced and trouble free slurry, which even flies will not recognise as being of the original variety! When it is spread on the land it will eventually result in a top soil that is full of billions of bacteria, each containing within themselves a nitrogenous protein. But why is this of any importance? When the slurry is put down the nitrogen will be slowly released. If there is heavy rainfall or even in flooding the amount of actual nitrogen entering the water table has been reduced by up to 80%. Incredible though this might be there is yet another characteristic which will find great favour with some and that is when the slurry is put down it could be virtually smell free. Here are the features of our slurry product:
* Holding capacity 100% always * Pumps, channels and pipes kept open
* Captures Ammonia * Captures nitrogen
* Slow release of nitrates * Greatly reduces leaching and air pollution
Disease
The bulk of the bacteria contained within the Product are Lactobacilli. These bacteria, which are similar to those found in any yoghurt, have one very distinct characteristic. When they die off they release Lactic acid, which is a substance that will kill off any pathogenic bacteria that may enter the bedding. Over months of use these billions of bacteria multiply and by sheer weight of numbers will completely swamp any foreign bacteria entering from the animals after they have been out to land, parlours or sheds.
During the process of its multiplication the bacterium has two requirements. One is for the synthesising of ammonia to a soluble nitrogen protein, which is then held within the bacteria and the other is a need for water. So not only does the bedding cease to have an overpowering smell of ammonia but it also becomes drier, countering respiratory disease.
Features of our product:
* Captures ammonia; fights lung disease * Kills pathogenic organisms
* Maintains safe dry environment * Improves all round health of animal
* Reduces mortality rates * Increases yields
Slurry
Most of the work we have carried out was initiated by a farmer having a problem which he has been unable to resolve. This could range from a blockage anywhere in the system, to heavy crusting in tanks or pits to simply being told that their farm is foul blight on society, being up wind of hamlets or estates. We can make a sweet smelling difference.
The product happily emulsifies any kind of slurry and then keeps it that way. Storage containers are then able to be utilised to their maximum capacity and any feed system from sheds or pits which uses channels or pipes are not only cleared but are kept permanently open. The use of our product also completely cuts out the need for aerators or mixers or any other kind of mechanical system employed to keep the slurry moving in a homogenous state. Here are the features of our slurry product :
* Completely homogenises slurry * Drastically reduces Ammonia smell
* Maintains pipe system to tanks * Problem free ‘pump out’ to field
* Enhances quality of slurry as fertiliser * Reduces leaching problems
* EU accreditation for safe use * Actively kills pathogens
Assurance
If you examine the video recordings of the two farmers it will be noticed that they have one thing in common. That is they have total assurance that the product will work.
This is because in allowing the product to be put down on their farms over a number of years they have created what we call a biofilm. This biofilm is virtually impervious to any attempt by pathogenic bacteria, parasitic or fungal infestation attacking the bedding or the animal. In fact many vectors carrying disease or parasites will simply not recognise the bedding or muck as their required habitat, probably due to the drastic lowering of ammonia levels.
What has caused this?
It is simple. If the product is used regularly then the bacteria will continue to spread, not only on the bedding area but on the feeding areas, then the scraping yards themselves.
Eventually they will work their way both into and up pillars and posts creating in effect a shield that protects the animal’s environment from attack. Finally they will be found everywhere. The reason why this film is always in intact is that the bacteria, which eventually die off are being replaced both naturally and by the addition of very low applications of fresh product. The result is that farmers are assured of healthy stock.
Environment
The product is entirely ‘green’ and therefore completely safe for use by organic farmers, as well as by those who are not. To that end it has obtained European accreditation and the production stock cultures are housed at Pasteur Institute. Apart from being totally harmless to animals and to humans it is also highly beneficial to the environment. Its action includes the capture of ammonia nitrogen so that it is possible to remove up to 60% of the stench from bedding and manure. As regards manure it continues to act on stored piles where it significantly reduces run off that might enter the water table. In the case of leaching of nitrates into water course or the water table this is also virtually eradicated. Because the product turns muck into something entirely different there is a knock on effect where the production of other ‘greenhouse’ gases, such as methane, are drastically effected. Here are the features of our products:
* EU certified; safe and ‘green’ * Reduces Ammonia to environment
* Greatly reduces leaching * Dries out bedding and muck piles
*Enhances quality of topsoil * Reduces need for chemical fertilisation
Chris Grummtt
Technical Director Imtec Bio Ltd.