AQ2: Low ammonia emission flooring for livestock buildings

HowFarming much(CSF)

On you’llsolid beor paid 

£72slatted perfloors squarein metreslurry-based (m²).

livestock housing

HowWhere this item benefitscannot thebe environmentused

Reducing

• In thelivestock mixinghousing ofsystems where urine and faeces onwould livestocknot housingseparate floorseffectively andon the rapidfloor removaldue ofto the urinenature willof limitmanure theproduced chemical(for reactionsexample thathigh releasedry ammoniamatter intomanures)
• In thesystems air.where Thisthe helpsflooring  improveis airunlikely qualityto andreduce theammonia naturalemissions, environment.  

  Lowsuch emissionas floorsstraw-based arehousing typicallysystems usedor withsheep suitableon slurry

• Solid scrapersflooring tomust r educenot thebe surfacefitted areaover ofslatted slurryflooring exposedwith tounderfloor theslurry air, so reducing ammonia emissions.
  storage

WhereHow you can use this item 

Ifitem youwill havebenefit supportthe from a Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser, you can use this item on:

environment

• holdingsReducing targeted for the reductionmixing of ammoniaurine emissionsand fromfaeces  agricultureon – your Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser will tell you this

• livestock buildingshousing withfloors solidand orthe slattedrapid floorsremoval inof slurry-basedthe livestockurine housing

Catchmentwill Sensitivelimit Farmingthe provideschemical advicereactions wherethat there’srelease waterammonia. quality,Low airemission qualityfloors orwith floodsuitable riskslurry issuesscrapers linkedeffectively toreduces farming.

Youthe cannotsurface usearea thisof itemslurry if:

• solidthat flooring is goingexposed to bethe fittedair, onthereby topreducing ofammonia slattedemissions flooringfrom withthe underfloorhousing. slurryAmmonia storage
• urineemissions andare faeceslinked wouldto notpoor separateair effectivelyquality onthat impacts the floornatural dueenvironment toand thehuman dryhealth. natureAmmonia ofin manureair produced

Whatand youassociated mustnitrogen dodeposition toharms usesensitive thishabitats item

Youand must: species.

Requirements

• You must purchase and install low ammonia emission flooring in livestock housinghousing. (suchThis asincludes grooved rubber flooring)flooring and shaped, slotted, sloping and profiled floors designed to separate and rapidly drain urine deposited by livestock
• fitFlooring must be fitted into the flooringdimensions toof the area covered (fit full passageway width
• coverwidth) and if covering slatted floors tomust match the area, gaps and slats of the floor
• usefloor, flooringand be suitable for the livestock you’re housing
• ensureThe the flooring canmust be retrofittedsuitable for retro-fitting to or replacement of solid concrete flooring or slatted floors

You

The must also install flooring that’smust be specifically designed and managed to reduce ammonia emissions by at least 25%25%. comparedThis tomust conventionalbe flooring.evidenced Theby manufacturer’sthe manufacturer/installer’s technical specificationproduct shouldspecification(s) showshowing the ammonia emission factor (EF)(EF), or percentage ammonia emissions reduction. It must be verified by either a published peer-reviewed research paper, official European design standard or a testingproduct system report (for example an RAV official test reference number).

Younumber mustthat usemeets flooringThe that’sDutch suitableAmmonia for:

• the dimensions and slopeLivestock ofFarming theRegulation floor area
• where you’ll install it
• the type and number of livestock housed
• the amount of slurry produced

You should:

• steam clean concrete floor before you install rubber flooring (tiles or rollsan equivalent totesting avoid it getting damagedsystem
• stretch the rubber to avoid it bubbling

Cattle housing

In cattle housing, install flooring that separates urine from faeces effectively and quickly directs the urine away to storage. YouThe floor must scrapebe thescraped floor:

• with a scraper that’sthat is effective for use with the flooring installed
• and at a frequency in line with the product specification (ator at least 4four times a day)day to remove faeces to storage

Pig

In housing 

Installpig housing, install partially slatted flooringflooring, that’s designed with a slat shape, surface and openings.openings Thisto will increase the speed of slurryslurry/urine and urine drainage to an underfloorunder-floor storage pit or to channels fitted with scrapers for the rapid removal of slurry. Reduce air flow over the slatted area.

Evidencearea

The youflooring must keep 

Yoube mustsuitable keepfor writtenthe supportdimensions fromand yourslope Catchmentof Sensitivethe Farmingfloor adviserarea, where it will be installed, the type and providenumber of livestock housed and the amount of slurry produced

For rubber flooring (tiles or rolls) the concrete floor should be steam cleaned before installation and stretched to avoid bubbling and damage

Keeping records

You must send the following with your application.

• Written support from CSF

You must keep the following records and providesupply them with your claim:payment claim.

• photographsPhotographs of the site during the different stages of construction and of the completed works installed
• Photographs of the completed works in place and installed

You must also keep the following records and providesupply them on request:request.

• Product technical specification of the product showing evidence of ammonia emission factorreduction/factor (EF), or percentage reduction in ammonia emissions and related verificationevidence documentation
• receiptedReceipted invoicesinvoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• photographsPhotographs of the site before works start

ReadPlease see the record keeping and siteinspection visit requirements inas theset Agreementout holder’sin guide:the Capitalrelevant Grants,Mid Tier, Higher Tier capitalor grantsCapital and Protection and Infrastructure grantsGrants guidance for more information.details

Advice toand helpsuggestions youfor usehow to carry out this item

The following advice mayis helphelpful, youbut tothey useare not requirements for this item,item.

You butcan youfind dodetails notof havethe toammonia followemission itfactors tofor getlivestock paid.housing systems in the UK in the annexes of the Inventory of Ammonia Emissions from UK Agriculture on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory website.

Slurry scrapers

ThereTypically arefor differentuse typesin ofpassageways slurryin scraper.cattle Youcubicle shouldsheds installor onefor pig housing in slurry-based systems. This item is not suitable for sheep on slurry systems.

A slurry scraper suitable for the type of floor installed,installed must be used, such as an automatic slurry scraper with a toothed rubber blade for grooved rubber flooring.

flooring, or with robotic slurry scrapers/pushers or collectors that effectively remove faeces/slurry from the floor. Product manufacturers may specifyrequire you use a scraper specifically designed for use with their flooring product to make sure the flooring:

• flooring is scraped effectively
• meetseffectively, meet the ammonia emission factor
• is notand damaged

Slattedprevent floors

damage to the floor. This item can be used in conjunction with AQ1 automatic slurry scraper, where suitable for the flooring.

In pig housing,buildings, usingto reduce ammonia emissions further, install trays underneathunder the slats willto help drainthe urine andto reducedrain ammoniaoff buildseparately. up.

You can also use curtains underas baffles beneath the slatted floorarea and scrapers in the channels underbeneath theslatted flooring towhich help remove slurry quickly and frequently. Transverse, trapezoid or toothed shaped slats with metal or plastic coating and larger rectangular openings work best to drain through slatted floors.

Reducing

Get ammoniamore emissions

advice

ThereMore aredetailed severalinformation publicationsabout using this item is available through Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF). You may also be able to giverequest youa specialist farm advice onvisit from CSF, such as a farm infrastructure advisory report, a slurry and manure handling plan, or a conserving nitrogen through reducing ammonia emissions.emissions Forvisit. example:You can find more information on CSF support online at Catchment Sensitive Farming: advice for farmers and land managers online.

You can find more information in:

• How cattle house flooring can reduce ammonia emissions on the AHDB website

  Catchment

• CSF Sensitive Farming case study 170 on the Natural England website

• Pig buildings and housing on the AHDB website

• Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Intensive Rearing of Poultry or Pigs on the European Commission site