The CowToilet, set to be showcased at Lamma and Dairy-Tech next year, could reportedly offer a practical way for farmers to reduce ammonia emissions by up to a third.
Developed by Dutch company Hanskamp, the system separates cow urine and faeces. It uses the fact that cattle do not urinate and defecate at the same time, meaning it can collect urine before it mixes with manure and creates ammonia.
It has already won two awards ahead of Lamma – a gold medal in the Future Innovation for Environmental Benefit, and bronze in the Livestock/Dairy Innovation.
According to the company, the CowToilet will integrate into a free-access, out-of-parlour feeding system. As cattle enter to eat, it rubs against the suspensory ligament of the udder to trigger urination. Urine is then collected in a sealed receptacle and stored in an airtight tank.
According to Wageningen Livestock Research, keeping urine and manure separate can reduce ammonia emissions by 38%, total nitrogen by 33% and nitrous oxide by 18%.
“Ammonia is one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the livestock sector,” explains Hanskamp founder Henk Hanskamp. “We wanted to create a system that works with nature, not against it – improving animal welfare and helping farmers meet environmental targets without adding to their workload. The CowToilet achieves this in a simple, natural, and effective way.”
In addition, the nitrogen rich urine can be used as a natural fertiliser, while the sold manure retains phosphate and organic matter. The separation will enable growers to be more precise with their nutrient applications.
Each CowToilet is designed to serve up to 25 cows, costing approximately £28,000.