Feedlots Essay Sample

The United States has nearly 8000 feedlots each producing 20,000 gallons of manure a day. What happens to all of the manure? The ways a large portion of feedlots manage the manure and subsequent greenhouse gasses will cause the price of dairy and meat products to increase. Recently, a development that allows farmers to reduce the greenhouse gas output while reducing the cost of livestock products to the consumer.

Manure is the main byproduct that feedlots deal with when producing livestock for the market. As nothing can be done about the animals producing manure, the feedlots must take measures to control the waste. Storage ponds are the best way for many feedlots to store the manure, however, the ponds are a large expense for the farm.

When in the storage pond the manure starts to decompose due to natural anaerobic bacteria within the manure. The anaerobic bacteria produce methane gas as a byproduct of decomposition. According to the EPA, feedlots account for nearly 10 percent of the total methane produced in the United States. However, if the decomposition process happens in a  controlled environment the methane gas can be captured and used.

Many feedlots are now incorporating a machine called the anaerobic digester. Within  the digester is a sealed reactor with low oxygen and anaerobic bacteria, very similar to the stomach of a cow. Both the liquid manure and decomposable household waste are put into the digester creating a food source for the bacteria. The manure will remain in the reactor for 20-30 days at 100°F constantly being stirred,  at 100°F the bacteria will be at the perfect temperature to eat and break down the waist. Since the digestion can be controlled the feedlot can collect any byproducts of the reaction.

The byproducts of the bacteria eating the waist can be sold making more profit for the feedlot and lowering the cost to consumers. Without the digester, the only profit from the manure was liquid fertilizer. Now the byproducts of the manure include livestock bedding, collectible methane, and the same liquid fertilizer. The bedding can be used at the feedlot to increase the profit margin. Liquid fertilizer can be sold to nearby farms for use on crops. The main byproducts of the digester are hydrogen and methane gas. The gas can be collected and used to fuel generators to produce power. Feedlots with a digester are typically able to produce enough power for up to 1000 homes(Oberman). The power made by the feedlot can be sold and reduce the feedlot’s break-even point.

Incorporating the anaerobic digester, feedlots are now reducing their carbon footprint while turning manure into savings for the customer.