The beds where animals rest in livestock farms are an important factor and intrinsically related to their welfare.
Superphosphate beds are among the best known, and have advantages and disadvantages.
Superphosphate is a product that inhibits the release of ammonia, which is beneficial. But why?
Superphosphate is a substance obtained by treating rocks with a high content of phosphates with sulfuric acid or with a mixture of sulfuric and phosphoric acid. That is why it is mainly composed of calcium phosphates and calcium sulfates. The fact of being treated with these strong acids gave the Superphosphate an acid character, presenting a pH in aqueous solution of approximately 3-4.
On the other hand, ammonia is an alkaline product, specifically it is a weak base, when it comes into contact with the superphosphate a chemical reaction is produced, and for that reason the ammonia is not released, because it is taking part in a reaction.
This explanation provides several points to reflect on:
-Superphosphate reacts with ammonia, so it is not an inert material.
-Animals (cows, goats, sheep…) that rest in bed will have their skin (udders, teats, wounds, scabs, ulcers…) in contact with an acidic substance, which will not benefit from healing.
-Superphosphate is an insoluble product, but it does not absorb water.
-Due to its low solubility, problems arise in the septic tank as it settles, creating a deposit..
-When the slurry is deposited on the fields, the superphosphate acts as a fertilizer. However, when the amount of phosphates is very high, such a high contribution can cause a phenomenon known as eutrophication. Eutrophication is a process of overenrichment of nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates, which stimulates an increase in algae in water (rivers, lakes…). This causes a deoxygenation of the water causing the death of fish, giving rise to the eruption of bacteria and leaving the drinking water supply.
For all this, the ideal is to use a dryer that meets the following characteristics:
–Absorption and dry capacity.
-Do not decant in the septic tank.
-When the slurry is deposited on the fields, it should not affect the quality of the soil.
-Respectful with the environment.
–Inert: it does not react chemically with other components. The chemical reaction can release other gases that can be harmful to animals.
-That prevents the release of ammonia.
–Neutral pH, which does not affect the possible skin conditions that the animal may present.
Sanisec and Phytogrape dryer meet these characteristics. They are natural absorbents. Its structure resembles a brick wall, in which some of them have been removed alternately. This three-dimensional structure is rigid, so there are no changes in the dimensions of the desiccant particle as a consequence of the absorption process. This rigidity also implies that each particle maintains its mechanical resistance even when saturated with liquids.
For all of this, before selecting what type of bed we want for our cattle, it is essential to find out about the different alternatives available on the market, and even change to introduce several alternatives as a preventive measure.
Do you want to know what products we have in the Phytogrape range? You just have to click here.
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