New Separator, Pump and Mixer Transform Slurry Handling at Chesterton House Farm

56 4 minutes read

Key points

Listen to this article

A new separator, pump and mixer system has significantly improved slurry handling operations at Chesterton House Farm, a busy dairy farm located in the Warwickshire village of Harbury near Royal Leamington Spa.

Managing slurry from 105 Holstein cows had become an increasing challenge for the farm, with the material often proving too runny for effective spreading yet too thick to pump efficiently. The issue was impacting day-to-day operations as well as field performance across the farm’s 200 acres of grassland.

George Clarke, who is in a business partnership with Louise Trice, owner of Chesterton House Farm, explained:

“To be fair, what we had before was just a pit that all the scrapings and everything went into, so it was a mess. We could see the compaction in the fields (200 acres) at silage time, with all the wheel marks from the spreader, where the grass hadn’t grown as it should have.”

Upgrading Dairy Farm Slurry Management

Looking to modernise the farm’s slurry handling capabilities with a reliable and cost-effective solution, George Clarke approached Midland Slurry Systems, based in nearby Shipston-on-Stour. The company has worked with Chesterton House Farm for decades.

The Landia mixer homogenises slurry at Chesterton House Farm in Harbury.

George added:

“Seeing big puddles being made everywhere from the spreader wasn’t good at all, so as part of us wanting to keep the farm moving forward, we knew it was time to make changes.”

Working closely with Giles Russell from Midland Slurry Systems, the farm installed an EYS separator system designed to mechanically separate the liquid and solid fractions of fibre-rich slurry. The aim was to create a more manageable and consistent slurry product while reducing compaction issues in the fields.

Integrated Slurry Pump and Mixer System

An important element of the installation is a 7.5kW Landia Chopper Pump, which continuously reduces particle sizes while transferring slurry from a newly installed reception tank measuring 4m x 4m and 2m deep. The tank receives slurry through a newly constructed sewerage channel.

The slurry, which contains approximately 10% dry matter, is kept fresh and fully homogenised using a 5.5kW Landia mixer. The complete installation was completed within just three days and also included an ultrasonic level sensor that enables the slurry handling system to operate automatically.

The new system is capable of processing approximately 9m³ of slurry per day, helping the farm improve operational efficiency while reducing labour demands.

separator mechanically separates solid liquid fractions — The Separator mechanically separates the solid and liquid fractions of the fibre-rich slurry, whilst the Landia Chopper Pump continuously reduces particle sizes.

Improved Slurry Homogenisation and Equipment Reliability

Discussing the benefits of the system, Giles Russell from Midland Slurry Systems said:

“Because the Landia mixer does such a good job of uniformly homogenising the slurry, the fibre portion rides along the front of the auger and slides along the screen, keeping it clean. We’ve also developed a way of programming the separator, so that it is reversible, which prolongs its lifetime. We also know that Landia pumps and mixers will keep on running and running.”

The improved homogenisation process helps maintain a more consistent slurry composition, reducing operational problems and improving separator performance.

Harbury Milk Shed has proved very popular.

Reliable Operation and Reduced Labour Requirements

George Clarke, who first started working on the farm at weekends when he was just 13 years old, explained how the automated system has simplified slurry management on the farm:

“The only thing that will cause a problem is incidental solids that you get on any farm. So far, we’ve had a load of string, and when we got a bit keen trimming back our conifers, but overall, the whole system is very reliable indeed and frees up time. The Landia mixer kicks in first for a few minutes, getting a good swirl going to blend the slurry. Then the Landia Chopper Pump and the separator kick in. When it was wet last winter, the system would run every day, and now every three to four days when it is drier. Even if the slurry is reasonably thick, the system only needs to run for a couple of hours; less of course if it is thinner. And since we invested in 50kW of solar panels, it doesn’t cost a lot to run. Everything is very reliable, and if we ever need any advice or help, Midland Slurry Systems are always there for us.”

The addition of solar panels has also helped reduce running costs, contributing to improved energy efficiency and farm sustainability.

Better Grass Growth and Reduced Fertiliser Costs

The liquid slurry fraction is pumped to the farm’s new lagoon measuring 75m x 35m and 4.5m deep, while the separated dry matter is supplied to a nearby arable farmer.

George Clarke believes the improvements in slurry consistency and application will deliver long-term benefits for grass production and nutrient management:

“We expect to see a very noticeable improvement in grass growth for silage, and a reduction in the amount of bagged fertiliser we have to buy, which will be a big benefit.”

Improved nutrient utilisation and reduced soil compaction are expected to support healthier silage crops while lowering input costs across the farm.

vending machine chesterton house farm — One of the vending machines at Chesterton House Farm.

Supporting the Local Community Through Farm Innovation

Each cow at Chesterton House Farm produces approximately 10,000 litres of milk per year, which is supplied to Arla. Alongside its dairy operations, the farm has also introduced milk vending machines that have become increasingly popular within the village community.

Selling up to 1,000 litres of fresh milk each week, the vending operation has created an additional revenue stream for the farm while helping strengthen relationships with local residents. George and Heather have since expanded the offering to include a coffee machine, eggs, yoghurt and cakes, turning the site into a popular local meeting place.

“It’s definitely improved our relationship with the village,” said George. “People now have much more of an idea of the work we do.”

For more information visit Landia UK and Midland Slurry Systems.

Contact Details

Landia Ltd

0194 8661 200
info@landia.co.uk
http://www.landia.co.uk
Waymills Industrial Estate, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 1TT GB

About us

Landia's headquarters are located in Lem, which is how it has been since 1933. Today, Landia has subsidiaries in England, Germany, Norway and the US, and a sales office in China. In addition, Landia products are sold in 45 countries worldwide. Landia supplies pumping and mixing solutions to many different industries, with the most important ones being agriculture, wastewater, biogas plants and the fish industry. In general, you will find Landia's products wherever there is a difficult medium to be pumped or mixed. Landia survives by selling quality solutions in close partnership with the customers.

Landia is not a supermarket where customers select products from the shelves. Our technical sales people are always in close discussions with customers, which ensures solutions that work. For Landia, quality in every phase a matter of course, and we have been ISO9001 certified since 1994. Quality also means that many of Landia's products have been in operation for 20-25 years even though the operating conditions may be extreme. In that way, Landia's customers achieve the lowest lifespan costs, while resource consumption is minimised, which further results in a positive impact on the environment.