Innovative Dutch dairy equipment company Hanskamp is developing a revolutionary CowToilet that could solve the ammonia problems facing milk producers. By ensuring that the urine stays separate from manure, ammonia emission are considerably reduced.
Hanskamp has been developing its CowToilet since 2016. It’s an automatic urinal that cows use voluntarily, when she visits the feed station, and is designed to collect urine before it hits the floor. The system relies on a nerve reflex cows have that causes them to immediately urinate. With the CowToilet, Hanskamp has managed to automate this long-known technique.
The CowToilet is placed against the cow’s suspensory ligament and moves in unison with the cow. The technique locates the nerve, and once located, it is stimulated to trigger urination. The urine is collected in the CowToilet container, and extracted through a suction line into a separate storage tank.
Because most of the urine is collected, an enormous reduction in ammonia emissions is achieved. This is good for both the environment and animal welfare; as it leads to a healthier climate in the shed, for example. The CowToilet also offers economic advantages as it saves on manure storage costs, and may even be an alternative to ammonia emission reducing floors.
This system also offers great opportunities for new revenues. Pure urine can be used as a high-quality raw material in, for example, precision fertilisation. There are also ongoing developments in which urine is used to generate “yellow” power or as a source of hydrogen. The CowToilet by Hanskamp, therefore, contributes to a sustainable and profitable future in dairy farming.
Ammonia problem
European agreements stipulate a reduction of ammonia emissions. Following this, national limits aimed to reduce emissions have been implemented. Approximately 90 per cent of ammonia emissions come from agriculture, according to Wageningen University & Research.
When manure and urine mix, ammonia is formed. If this is released into the air, it can precipitate in nature, causing large amounts of nitrogen to end up on the ground. Plants can only process up to a certain amount of nitrogen. The remaining amount acidifies the soil and affects the groundwater. High concentrations of ammonia are harmful to humans and animals.
To limit ammonia emissions from the agricultural sector, dairy farmers have to pay high fees to meet ammonia emission and manure disposal requirements. Therefore, ammonia reduction is a high priority for many dairy farmers. The CowToilet by Hanskamp has the potential to be a crucial solution in this field.
For more information visit:www.hanskamp.nl/en/cowtoilet.
