Founded in 1992, ATD Manure Systems Inc. has been developing sustainable solutions to environmental challenges facing the hog and dairy industries in Canada. Both sectors were incapable of increasing their selling prices so our approach was to create new products to sell or somehow wring out current costs of production.
Today the livestock industry faces challenges in nutrient regulations, climate change and sustainability. Our challenge was to identify the farm processes that were costly and define solutions based on improved outcomes and/or reduced costs – we concentrated on Manure Management .
ATD’s 2 Step System™ (described fully at www.dairymanure.com creates a reliable link in the supply chain of bio-gas production. Step 1 provides Dairy Farms with the Fournier Rotary Press to capture 99% of TSS (fines and all) at 30% dry matter into ammonia-free loads to the digester at a lower cost per tonne of solids.
At the digester, these high-solids loads provide the operator with options to increase feed stream solids, reduce dilution water, and increase gas production. The installation of both Steps 1 and 2 at the Hub, provides 30% dry matter digestate, recycled water for the feed stream and concentrates the dissolved solids and gases for return to the Dairy. It removes the need for significant new water demand as well as any long-term storage facility. The Hub will be seen as a good neighbor, not making demands on local air and water resources.
Participating dairies and the Hub operator will find that installing Step 1, the Fournier Rotary Press at the farm (they may already have the equivalent), and installing Steps 1 and 2 at the Hub, reduces costs for both parties, and extends the collection area.