Instead of a flushing system, this process utilizes a bedding system of ground up corn stalks, woodshavings, sawdust or newspapers and reduces the smell associated with pig effluent. The manure is mixed with these materials and piled in long rows. It requires windrowing, or turning over of the material on a daily basis, and five to 10 acres. The composted material is then bagged and sold in various markets to general consumers. It is common in a few areas, but not a widespread practice because of the capital required to handle the compost and the required supply of other available materials to mix with manure to make the system work.
Experts agree composting has great potential, but it requires someone willing to do the composting.
Most hog operations do not want to be in the business of composting. Methane recovery system. Anaerobic lagoons can be covered to collect the methane gas that comes from the sludged bottom layer of the lagoon and the liquid just above that. The gas can be burned or utilized in gas-powered generators. One of the problems with an outdoor system is temperatures below 40 degrees slows down the anaerobic organisms, and thus, the methane gas would be greatly reduced at the very time people need heat in the buildings.