Dutch Farmers View New Manure System

Dutch and Belgian farmers are observing the first Moving Floor system for pigs at Stadsboerderij Hushoven in Weert, Netherlands. The self-cleaning floor quickly removes manure from the pigsty using a Swedish system. A moving floor scrapes the manure out with a screw mechanism, aiming to significantly reduce ammonia emissions.

Owners Math and Petra Lemmers anticipate at least a 75 percent reduction in ammonia. Hushoven serves as a demonstration site for the Moving Floor concept. The rubber floor shifts incrementally like a conveyor belt, transporting manure and capturing ammonia.

Lemmers is currently researching different bedding types—straw, sawdust, and turf—to maximize manure reduction and pig comfort. They are also experimenting with stall temperature and heating to encourage pigs to deposit waste on the moving floor. Further research is needed to optimize the system for financial viability.