Assessment of Cumulative Energy Needs for Chosen Technologies of Cattle Feeding in Barns with Conventional (CFS) and Automated Feeding Systems (AFS)

The increasing popularity of automated systems and the increased market share of producers of robotic feeding equipment for cows causes the need for a deeper study of energy demand in such technologies. This article provides an analysis of the inputs of energy accumulated in conventional (CFS) and automated feeding systems (AFS) for cattle. The aim of this is to determine the impact of robotic technologies for the preparation and feeding of fodder on the cumulative energy inputs. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of machinery and the equipment applied to the cumulative energy intensity in cattle farming facilities. The cumulative energy consumption for four technologies of automated cattle feeding (AFS) was tested and compared to the energy consumption for six technologies with a conventional feeding system (CFS). The research involved nine cow barn facilities for dairy cows and one for beef cattle. An evaluation has been made for cattle farming structures (milk and meat production) with various mixing and feeding systems for feeds of various concentrations, and keeping system (tied system and free-stall). The cow barns differed in feed mixing, feeding machinery, and equipment. Measurements of live labor inputs and the consumption of electric and mechanical energy carriers were carried out, and the mass of various types of machines and devices with software was taken into account, which became the basis for calculating cumulative energy consumption for individual technologies. The obtained average of electric and mechanical energy inputs for robotic technologies of feeding fodder (AFS) was 0.60025 kWh∙day−1∙LU−1(where LU means Large Animal Unit 500 kg), and it was 39.3% lower than for conventional technologies (CFS) where it was 0.989052 kWh∙day−1∙LU−1. However, taking into account all components of cumulative energy consumption, the average for the group of robotic technologies (AFS) was higher by 35.18% than for conventional technologies (CFS)

Influence of acided slurry on the chemical composition of permanent grassland soil

Przedstawiono wpływ stosowania gnojowicy zakwaszonej na skład chemiczny gleby trwałych użytków zielonych. Próby gleby pobierano zgodnie z polską normą z głębokości 0–30 cm, czyli z całego profilu glebowego. Wykorzystanie stężonego kwasu siarkowego do zmniejszania pH gnojowicy, a tym samym zatrzymywania azotu w glebie i w dalszej kolejności wykorzystywania go przez rośliny uprawne daje podwójną korzyść – ogranicza straty azotu i obniża koszty nawozów mineralnych, które należałoby zakupić. Aplikowanie surowej gnojowicy pod powierzchnię gleby przynosi korzyści w postaci ograniczenia emisji amoniaku, ale nie ma wpływu na stosowanie nawozów z dodatkiem siarki, przeciwnie niż stosowanie gnojowicy zakwaszonej. Ograniczenie emisji amoniaku do otoczenia w przypadku, gdy w pobliżu pól uprawnych nawożonych gnojowicą znajdują się osiedla mieszkaniowe, wywiera pozytywny wpływ na mieszkańców, ponieważ ograniczony jest przykry odór gnojowicy.The state of soil in Poland was presented in the aspect of the necessity of pouring liquid manure onto arable fields and preventing of ammonia to escape into the atmosphere. The use of concentrated sulfuric acid to lower the pH of the slurry and thus retain nitrogen in the soil and then use it by crops gives a double benefit, reduces nitrogen losses and reduces the cost of mineral fertilizers that should be purchased. Injecting raw slurry beneath the soil surface has some benefits in the form of reducing ammonia emissions, but it does not affect the use of fertilizers with the addition of sulfur, which is ensured in the case of slurry acidification

Assessment of Cumulative Energy Needs for Chosen Technologies of Cattle Feeding in Barns with Conventional (CFS) and Automated Feeding Systems (AFS)

The increasing popularity of automated systems and the increased market share of producers of robotic feeding equipment for cows causes the need for a deeper study of energy demand in such technologies. This article provides an analysis of the inputs of energy accumulated in conventional (CFS) and automated feeding systems (AFS) for cattle. The aim of this is to determine the impact of robotic technologies for the preparation and feeding of fodder on the cumulative energy inputs. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of machinery and the equipment applied to the cumulative energy intensity in cattle farming facilities. The cumulative energy consumption for four technologies of automated cattle feeding (AFS) was tested and compared to the energy consumption for six technologies with a conventional feeding system (CFS). The research involved nine cow barn facilities for dairy cows and one for beef cattle. An evaluation has been made for cattle farming structures (milk and meat production) with various mixing and feeding systems for feeds of various concentrations, and keeping system (tied system and free-stall). The cow barns differed in feed mixing, feeding machinery, and equipment. Measurements of live labor inputs and the consumption of electric and mechanical energy carriers were carried out, and the mass of various types of machines and devices with software was taken into account, which became the basis for calculating cumulative energy consumption for individual technologies. The obtained average of electric and mechanical energy inputs for robotic technologies of feeding fodder (AFS) was 0.60025 kWh∙day−1∙LU−1(where LU means Large Animal Unit 500 kg), and it was 39.3% lower than for conventional technologies (CFS) where it was 0.989052 kWh∙day−1∙LU−1. However, taking into account all components of cumulative energy consumption, the average for the group of robotic technologies (AFS) was higher by 35.18% than for conventional technologies (CFS)

Biomass Energy Technologies from Innovative Dairy Farming Systems

Modern and innovative dairy cattle breeding technologies are highly dependent on the level of mechanization. This article presents modern solutions for dairy cattle breeding, in particular, for livestock buildings, in which longitudinal development is possible in accordance with the farm’s needs as well as with obtaining additional energy from biogas and post-ferment for granulated organic fertilizer. In the analysed technology for milk production, methane fermentation, biogas yield, and the possibility of fertilizer production in the form of granules are considered. The presented modular cattle breeding technology includes sustainable production, which is economic; environmentally friendly, with preconditions in the facility including animal welfare; and socially acceptable, resulting from a high level of mechanization, which ensures both comfortable working conditions and high milk quality. The presented production line is an integral part of the milk production process with the possibility of organic fertilizer being used in the production of healthy food

Study of Methane Fermentation of Cattle Manure in the Mesophilic Regime with the Addition of Crude Glycerine

The urgency of the study is due to the need to increase the productivity of biogas plants by intensifying the process of methane fermentation of cattle manure in mesophilic mode by adding to it the waste from biodiesel production: crude glycerine. To substantiate the rational amount of crude glycerine in the substrate, the following tasks were performed: determination of dry matter, dry organic matter, and moisture of the substrate from cattle manure with the addition of crude glycerine; conducting experimental studies on biogas yield during fermentation of cattle manure with the addition of crude glycerine with periodic loading of the substrate; and development of a biogas yield model and determination of the rational composition of crude glycerine with its gradual loading into biogas plants with cattle manure. The article presents the results of research on fermentation of substrates in a laboratory biogas plant with a useful volume of 30 L, which fermented different proportions of crude glycerine with cattle manure at a temperature of 30 °C, 35 °C, and 40 °C. The scientific novelty of the work is to determine the patterns of intensification of the process of methane fermentation of cattle manure with the addition of different portions of crude glycerine. A rapid increase in biogas yield is observed when the glycerol content is up to 0.75%. With the addition of more glycerine, the growth of biogas yield slows down. The digester of the biogas plant, where experimental studies were conducted on the fermentation of substrates based on cattle manure with the addition of co-substrates, is suitable for periodic loading of the substrate. As a rule, existing biogas plants use a gradual mode of loading the digester. Conducting experimental studies on biogas yield during fermentation of cattle manure with the addition of crude glycerine with periodic loading of the substrate makes it possible to build a mathematical model of biogas yield and determine the rational composition (up to 0.75%) of crude glycerine with its gradual loading in biogas plants. Adding 0.75% of crude glycerine to the substrate at a fermentation temperature of 30 °C allows to increase the biogas yield by 2.5 times and proportionally increase the production of heat and electricity. The practical application of this knowledge allows the design of an appropriate capacity of the biogas storage tank (gasholder)