The Value of Pig Slurry for Cereals

The value of pig slurry for grass production is well accepted in both improving growth and reducing inorganic (chemical) fertiliser costs.  These benefits are also available to cereal producers, but to date have not been fully exploited. The significant rise in fertilizer price combined with the predicted increased area of cereal planting means cereal producers must consider pig slurry as a viable alternative.

Mark Adams from Sion Mills, County Tyrone, grows approximately 75 hectares of winter and spring cereals each year.  He also operates a birth-to-bacon pig unit and fully appreciates the benefits of pig slurry as a valuable supply of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.  “I always get a good response to pig slurry from both winter and spring crops” says Mark.  “I see the slurry as a valuable fertiliser and have increased the amount of slurry storage on my farm to make sure there is enough available when I need it”.  Mark aims to apply slurry onto cereal stubble immediately before ploughing his winter cereal ground, with another application in the spring. For spring cereals, Mark delays the slurry application until all the sowing is completed.

The construction of a new above ground slurry store allows Mark to store slurry over the summer, for application during the autumn and spring spreading periods.

By using pig slurry to supply a large proportion of the crop nutrients, the amount of inorganic fertiliser required is greatly reduced.  For example every 2000 gallon (9,100 l) tanker of undiluted pig slurry applied provides available nutrients equivalent to three 50 KG bags of a 15:18:16 compound type fertiliser.  This equates to approximately £45 at current fertilizer prices.

To make maximum use of the nutrients in pig slurry, Mark recently purchased a 2500 gallon (11,350 l) slurry tanker with trailing hose applicator.  This spreads the slurry directly onto cereal stubble using a series of trailing pipes rather than using an inverted spread plate, hence losses to the atmosphere are reduced.  The 15m boom width allows Mark to use existing tram lines during application and cause minimal damage to the crop.  “I felt that if I was going to make full use of the nutrients in pig slurry, I should try to reduce any losses at spreading.  I am convinced that crops respond better when slurry is spread by this method”.  Other benefits of this type of application are that slurry is spread evenly on the field and odours are greatly reduced.  

To improve health status, Mark is currently de-stocking his pig herd with the intention of re-stocking in the future.  Although slurry will not be available from his own unit, Mark intends to import pig slurry during this time.  He says “I would not consider growing either winter or spring crops without pig slurry – why should I?  It pays me to use it”

Mark Hawe and Mark Adams discuss the benefits of pig slurry for cereal crops using a trailing hose applicator