slurry and water

westlander

Hello,
Do many of you add water to your tanks when agitating?

I think this yr our tanks have plenty of water in them already after the bad rainfall and our silage was wet enough when baled.

If so how much water do ye add?

Its a 2 bay back to back slatted shed with standard tanks!

Thanks

reilig

I normally put in a foot of pig slurry into the bottom of the tank before the winter. Leaves it much easier to agitate. Didn't let any into the tanks this year as I had the cattle in for a few weeks in July/August and they put a foot of slurry in the tanks - so I expect I will have to draw water to them this year with the tanker.

Find too that it depends on what was fed to the cattle over the slats. Normally pens of weinlings that were fed meal have much drier manure and is harder to agitate. Cows fed on wet silage should have watery manure.

Also, I bought a 7ft 6" agitator last year. Used to use a borrowed 6ft agitator. The deeper agitator circulates the water at the bottom of the tank and leaves the tank faster to agitate.

westlander wrote: »

Hello,
Do many of you add water to your tanks when agitating?

I think this yr our tanks have plenty of water in them already after the bad rainfall and our silage was wet enough when baled.

If so how much water do ye add?

Its a 2 bay back to back slatted shed with standard tanks!

Thanks

snowman707

we usually add a minimum of 18 inches to each tank, we transfer soiled water and dairy washings with an electric pump, we add more if there is room in the tanks

westlander

Right thanks.

Maybe Im safer adding some water so!

I added some last yr alright after it was too dry because the cattle were let out awhile so the slurry had dried up too much.

Right pain when that happens.

BeeDI

westlander wrote: »

Hello,
Do many of you add water to your tanks when agitating?

I think this yr our tanks have plenty of water in them already after the bad rainfall and our silage was wet enough when baled.

If so how much water do ye add?

Its a 2 bay back to back slatted shed with standard tanks!

Thanks

Couple of years ago, I found it impossible to agitate my tank, even after adding a foot of water. Neighbour gave me some of that powder stuff (Plocher)which is supposed to do away with the need for agitating, which I mixed with water and poured into the tank. Gave it a 10 minute agitation to help mix the stuff in. Must say I was a skeptic about the merits of the stuff.

Let is sit for about 4 days. Came out to the shed one morning, to find the slurry, absolutely bubbling mad up through the slats. Totally changed consistency to it. Stuck in the agitator, and had the whole thing ready for spreading in less than 15 minutes.

Anyway, I have used the stuff ever since. Once every two weeks or so, when the cattle are in I mix a little of the stuff and pour into the tank.
The manufacturers claim there should be no need for any agitating, but I find this to be not exactly the case.
BUT, it sure makes the agitation process a whole lot faster and easier. The slurry never seems to get that thick crust on top. It seems to be a more even mix right down the tank. 15 minute agiatation at spreading time and away you go. Water never needed :cool:

This is the stuff I use. http://www.plocher.de/englisch/productdetails.php?pid=1

I have seen other stuff advertised in the IFJ called Slurryjest. Presume it does the same job, but cannot say from experience.

westlander

The tyres on our tanker seems to be on the wrong way (grips are going the opposite way)

its more than likely a mistake but just incase could there be a reason for that?

bk1991

westlander wrote: »

The tyres on our tanker seems to be on the wrong way (grips are going the opposite way)

its more than likely a mistake but just incase could there be a reason for that?

decrese tyre wear id say ?

MrFoxman360

westlander wrote: »

The tyres on our tanker seems to be on the wrong way (grips are going the opposite way)

its more than likely a mistake but just incase could there be a reason for that?

I always believed that it was to enable it to travel on wet ground better. Normal tractor tires are designed some what like mud tires, to dig into the ground to get traction as they are the driving wheels of the whole unit. The tanker tires are not driven, so they are fitted backwards to compress the ground it travels over to create less rolling resistance from the tanker,

Most big tanks, with the tractor grip profile, seem to have the tyres fitted "backwards"

kfk

BeeDI wrote: »

Couple of years ago, I found it impossible to agitate my tank, even after adding a foot of water. Neighbour gave me some of that powder stuff (Plocher)which is supposed to do away with the need for agitating, which I mixed with water and poured into the tank. Gave it a 10 minute agitation to help mix the stuff in. Must say I was a skeptic about the merits of the stuff.

Let is sit for about 4 days. Came out to the shed one morning, to find the slurry, absolutely bubbling mad up through the slats. Totally changed consistency to it. Stuck in the agitator, and had the whole thing ready for spreading in less than 15 minutes.

Anyway, I have used the stuff ever since. Once every two weeks or so, when the cattle are in I mix a little of the stuff and pour into the tank.
The manufacturers claim there should be no need for any agitating, but I find this to be not exactly the case.
BUT, it sure makes the agitation process a whole lot faster and easier. The slurry never seems to get that thick crust on top. It seems to be a more even mix right down the tank. 15 minute agiatation at spreading time and away you go. Water never needed :cool:

This is the stuff I use. http://www.plocher.de/englisch/productdetails.php?pid=1

I have seen other stuff advertised in the IFJ called Slurryjest. Presume it does the same job, but cannot say from experience.

I used that powder in my tanks this year. Expensive stuff but worth it.

Bitten & Hisses

On the website, it says that Plocher stuff is just calcium carbonate. If that's all it is, surely adding a slurry of hydrated lime would do the same thing?

westlander

MrFoxman360 wrote: »

I always believed that it was to enable it to travel on wet ground better. Normal tractor tires are designed some what like mud tires, to dig into the ground to get traction as they are the driving wheels of the whole unit. The tanker tires are not driven, so they are fitted backwards to compress the ground it travels over to create less rolling resistance from the tanker,

Most big tanks, with the tractor grip profile, seem to have the tyres fitted "backwards"

Right. You learn something new everyday:D

kfk

Bitten & Hisses wrote: »

On the website, it says that Plocher stuff is just calcium carbonate. If that's all it is, surely adding a slurry of hydrated lime would do the same thing?

Its mostly calcium carbonate but also contains magnesium carbonate and some other ingredients. The calcium carbonate is just a carrier. It also comes in liquid form with molasses as the carrier.

lifelover2006

westlander wrote: »

The tyres on our tanker seems to be on the wrong way (grips are going the opposite way)

its more than likely a mistake but just incase could there be a reason for that?

where did we get from talking about agitating slurry to tyre grips.

Personally I think spring lamb price will be very high this year although worried that prices of fertiliser are rising:):rolleyes::o;):D:cool::P:confused::pac::mad::(

AgriAir

Hi BeeDI,

Just wondering if you had to order the product from the guys in Holland or is there a dealer in Ireland? From what it says it looks like a great product.

Thanks,

AgriAir.

BeeDI wrote: »

Couple of years ago, I found it impossible to agitate my tank, even after adding a foot of water. Neighbour gave me some of that powder stuff (Plocher)which is supposed to do away with the need for agitating, which I mixed with water and poured into the tank. Gave it a 10 minute agitation to help mix the stuff in. Must say I was a skeptic about the merits of the stuff.

Let is sit for about 4 days. Came out to the shed one morning, to find the slurry, absolutely bubbling mad up through the slats. Totally changed consistency to it. Stuck in the agitator, and had the whole thing ready for spreading in less than 15 minutes.

Anyway, I have used the stuff ever since. Once every two weeks or so, when the cattle are in I mix a little of the stuff and pour into the tank.
The manufacturers claim there should be no need for any agitating, but I find this to be not exactly the case.
BUT, it sure makes the agitation process a whole lot faster and easier. The slurry never seems to get that thick crust on top. It seems to be a more even mix right down the tank. 15 minute agiatation at spreading time and away you go. Water never needed :cool:

This is the stuff I use. http://www.plocher.de/englisch/productdetails.php?pid=1

I have seen other stuff advertised in the IFJ called Slurryjest. Presume it does the same job, but cannot say from experience.

kfk

AgriAir wrote: »

Hi BeeDI,

Just wondering if you had to order the product from the guys in Holland or is there a dealer in Ireland? From what it says it looks like a great product.

Thanks,

AgriAir.

I bought it from a company in Bandon. €400 for 10 kgs. Not sure if there are any other stockists in Ireland. You could also order it from www.swiftnature.co.uk .

AgriAir

Hi kfk,
Thanks for letting me know.
Cheers,

AgriAir.

John_F

hi kfk, just wondering what was the name in bandon? farm supply stores / bandon co-op / stock health ????

kfk

John_F wrote: »

hi kfk, just wondering what was the name in bandon? farm supply stores / bandon co-op / stock health ????

It was farm supply stores.

vanderbadger

kfk wrote: »

It was farm supply stores.

would you need much stuff per bay of slurry

pajero12

westlander wrote: »

The tyres on our tanker seems to be on the wrong way (grips are going the opposite way)

its more than likely a mistake but just incase could there be a reason for that?

Decreased tyre wear..But also they dont bring out as much sh1te on the roads

kfk

vanderbadger wrote: »

would you need much stuff per bay of slurry

I used it last year as a once off treatment, think I used about 3 quarters of a kg per bay. It can be used weekly while cattle are housed and will help prevent crust formation. Says to use 5g per 500kg animal per week. http://www.plocher.com/englisch/productdetails.php?pid=22