Woodhey Hall Farm, which runs a dairy herd of 1,250 cows, has solved the problem of sand-laden slurry with a new pump and assistance with the setup of its reception pit.
Paul Robinson, the proprietor, explained that they had to fix the slurry pump every week before the change. “The seals on the pump kept failing, so it was taking up way too much time for us with repairs and maintenance. In theory, it was a perfectly good pump for ‘slurry’, but we soon saw that for sand-laden slurry, it’s a totally different story. You need a much sturdier pump, and the right set-up.”
In search of a replacement, he approached Landia. Mr Robinson added that moving away from sand bedding was not an option for the farm. “Sand-bedding definitely has its health advantages for our cows; less lameness, less need for anti-biotics, and in general, less dust, but you need to engage with a company who has the right kit and a proper understanding of how to handle what is a difficult, abrasive slurry.”
Landia worked with Mr Robinson to make changes to the system, emphasising the need to move the slurry when it is fresh, and to keep the slurry moving as quickly as possible.
Paul Davies, sales manager for Landia UK, said: “When a reception pit is too large, and the sand-laden slurry too spread out, a pump can easily become overwhelmed because the second stage of the process becomes far too heavy with sand. It becomes almost as if trying to pump sandpaper, which not surprisingly, is very damaging to the pump.
“To make the system as efficient as possible, we installed our pump vertically, so as to minimise the contact made between the sand and the pump, though for sand applications, we always supply our units with hardened components. The need for spare parts is inevitable in this application, but it is possible to minimise wear and protect against abrasion for as long as possible.”
Concluding, Mr Robinson said: “The Landia pump just hasn’t stopped since its installation – and we know we can call on them for advice if we need it, so it is good to have back-up. We’ve made significant savings, and overall, everything is much easier to handle.”
For more information go to www.landia.co.uk
