Introduction
Sand bedding is often a trusted choice for dairies to provide cow comfort and promote udder and joint health. Dairies who bed with sand also understand the importance of managing their sand-laden manure and the impacts sand has on different areas of their dairy.
However, even dairies that do not use sand bedding still deal with the unseen challenges of nuisance sand. This sand will infiltrate manure systems through feed, equipment and environmental exposure, creating hidden operational headaches.
Proactive manure management strategies can help you remove sand from your manure. It’s important to properly manage sand-laden manure to significantly reduce the impact of sand, helping to preserve the longevity of your equipment, your manure system’s performance and the quality of your bedding.
A Hidden Threat of Sand
Unwanted sand is different from bedding sand. It’s a nuisance – typically not purchased. It’s unintentional, fine and can be difficult to control. This sand sneaks in with the environment and will accumulate in manure pits and digesters, which in turn will create unforeseen complications. Wind-deposited sand (like blow sand), runoff from fields, equipment contamination, feed sources and even cow movement can contribute to nuisance sand in your manure.
Blow sand, is one of the primary sources of unwanted sand in manure. This fine, dry sand is carried by the wind from surrounding fields, roads or other open areas. It will eventually settle into dry lots, freestalls, and manure and bedding storage areas. In dry, sandy regions, this problem is especially pronounced, as strong winds transport large amounts of fine sand, which mixes with manure as cows move through open lots. Over time, this added sand builds up creating larger issues within the manure system.
Additionally, sand can enter the manure system through runoff from surrounding fields or pastures. During heavy rains or snowmelt, loose soil and sand can wash into manure lagoons or pits, particularly if proper drainage or ground cover is not in place. This runoff not only adds to sediment buildup but can also impact the composition of manure used for fertilizer application. Applying the sand-laden manure to your fields can affect soil performance and crop quality. Sand that ends up in your manure lagoon or pit can create headaches during annual cleanouts and can cause additional wear on equipment used to pump the lagoons or pits.
Equipment and feed sources can also introduce nuisance sand into the manure system. Sand or fine dirt can accumulate on feeding equipment, mixers or tractors and inadvertently get mixed with manure when these machines operate around the farm. Similarly, feed sources, particularly silage stored on dirt floors or ground-level bunkers, can pick up small amounts of sand, which then passes through the animals' digestive systems and ends up in manure.
Livestock movement in pastures with sandy or loose soil can further contribute to sand contamination, especially in dry conditions where animals kick up dust that later settles into manure collection areas.
Why managing all sand matters
Sand, whether wanted or unwanted, presents challenges in manure management, as sand-laden manure is abrasive, heavier than manure alone and impacts many areas of the dairy. Keeping sand in its intended places will help optimize crop, manure and bedding management.
One of the most immediate issues is increased equipment wear, especially for systems not designed to handle sand. Sand can accelerate the deterioration of manure pumps, separators and pipes. Over time, this increased wear can lead to frequent maintenance, early replacement, unexpected downtime and costly repairs.
The need for effective sand separation becomes even more critical as more dairies adopt anaerobic digesters to generate renewable energy. These systems are designed to process organic material, and excessive sand can interfere with their efficiency by displacing valuable digestible content and causing mechanical issues. Without proper sand separation, digesters may require frequent shutdowns for maintenance and expensive cleanouts, reducing overall productivity and profitability.
Sand-laden manure can change soil composition and performance, potentially affecting crop yields and quality over time.
To minimize these challenges and ensure sand remains beneficial rather than burdensome, dairy farmers can implement strategic management practices to keep unwanted sand out of manure storage, equipment and fields.
Reducing unwanted sand
Dairy farmers can minimize nuisance sand’s impact by implementing a combination of physical, operational and technological solutions.
Blow sand primarily enters via wind. Establishing windbreaks like trees, fences and fabric barriers around open lots and manure storage areas can help mitigate sand infiltration.
Keep bedding inside whenever possible to limit blow sand contamination. Bedding stored outdoors is more likely to collect wind-blown sand and other debris, which can enter the manure system when used in stalls. Proper storage in covered areas or enclosed barns helps ensure bedding remains cleaner and reduces the risk of nuisance sand infiltrating the system.
Enclosed storage also minimizes moisture accumulation, helping to maintain bedding quality and reducing unnecessary waste. Pressing and drying manure solids is an alternative to composting manure solids outside to help avoid unwanted sand accumulation.
Additionally, equipment used on the farm also plays a role in sand contamination. Tractors, loaders and feed-handling equipment can introduce additional sand into bedding and the manure system. Ensuring equipment is regularly cleaned and strategically maintained can help reduce sand accumulation in manure storage areas.
Separating Sand
Advanced sand separation technologies are also improving sand removal efficiency. Sand lanes and mechanical separation can capture larger sand particles before manure reaches storage, while hydrocyclones and centrifugal separation use G-force to extract fine sand that might otherwise bypass in traditional systems. Screw presses for dewatering manure further aid in reducing moisture, making separation more effective. It’s recommended to use a combination of separation technologies to help you remove the most amount of sand from manure. For example, a mechanical sand separation system working alongside a hydrocyclone and a sand settling lane, can remove up to 98% of sand from manure.
Conclusion
Nuisance sand is an unavoidable challenge for dairy farms, but it doesn’t have to be an expensive problem. By implementing proactive sand management strategies, dairy producers can extend equipment lifespan, reduce maintenance costs, and optimize manure handling efficiency.
