AQ2: Low ammonia emission flooring for livestock buildings
Find out about eligibility and requirements for this option.
How much will be paid
£72 per m2
Aim
To reduce ammonia emissions from slurry produced by housed livestock.
Where to use this item (eligibility)
- On holdings targeted for the reduction of ammonia emissions from agriculture
- With support from Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF)
- On solid or slatted floors in slurry-based livestock housing
Where this item cannot be used
- In livestock housing systems where urine and faeces would not separate effectively on the floor due to the nature of manure produced (for example high dry matter manures)
- In systems where the flooring is unlikely to reduce ammonia emissions, such as straw-based housing systems or sheep on slurry
- Solid flooring must not be fitted over slatted flooring with underfloor slurry storage
How this item will benefit the environment
Reducing the mixing of urine and faeces on livestock housing floors and the rapid removal of the urine will limit the chemical reactions that release ammonia. Low emission floors with suitable slurry scrapers effectively reduces the surface area of slurry that is exposed to the air, thereby reducing ammonia emissions from the housing. Ammonia emissions are linked to poor air quality that impacts the natural environment and human health. Ammonia in air and associated nitrogen deposition harms sensitive habitats and species.
Requirements
- You must purchase and install low ammonia emission flooring in livestock housing. This includes grooved rubber flooring and shaped, slotted, sloping and profiled floors designed to separate and rapidly drain urine deposited by livestock
- Flooring must be fitted into the dimensions of the area covered (fit full passageway width) and if covering slatted floors must match the area, gaps and slats of the floor, and be suitable for the livestock
- The flooring must be suitable for retro-fitting to or replacement of solid concrete flooring or slatted floors
- The flooring must be specifically designed and managed to reduce ammonia emissions by at least 25%. This must be evidenced by the manufacturer/installer’s technical product specification(s) showing the ammonia emission factor (EF), verified by either a published peer-reviewed research paper, or a product RAV official test reference number that meets The Dutch Ammonia and Livestock Farming Regulation or an equivalent testing system
- In cattle housing, install flooring that separates urine from faeces effectively and quickly directs the urine away to storage. The floor must be scraped with a scraper that is effective for use with the flooring installed and at a frequency in line with the product specification or at least four times a day to remove faeces to storage
- In pig housing, install partially slatted flooring, designed with slat shape, surface and openings to increase the speed of slurry/urine drainage to an under-floor storage pit or to channels fitted with scrapers for rapid removal of slurry. Reduce air flow over the slatted area
- The flooring must be suitable for the dimensions and slope of the floor area, where it will be installed, the type and number of livestock housed and the amount of slurry produced
- For rubber flooring (tiles or rolls) the concrete floor should be steam cleaned before installation and stretched to avoid bubbling and damage
Keeping records
You must send the following with your application.
- Written support from CSF
You must keep the following records and supply them with your payment claim.
- Photographs of the site during the different stages of construction and of the completed works installed
- Photographs of the completed works in place and installed
You must keep the following records and supply them on request.
- Product technical specification showing evidence of ammonia emission reduction/factor and related evidence documentation
- Receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
- Photographs of site before works start
Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Mid Tier, Higher Tier or Capital Grants guidance for more detail. You can find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.
Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item
The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.
You can find details of the ammonia emission factors for livestock housing systems in the UK in the annexes of the Inventory of Ammonia Emissions from UK Agriculture on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory website.
Typically for use in passageways in cattle cubicle sheds or for pig housing in slurry-based systems. This item is not suitable for sheep on slurry systems.
A slurry scraper suitable for the type of floor installed must be used, such as an automatic slurry scraper with a toothed rubber blade for grooved rubber flooring, or with robotic slurry scrapers/pushers or collectors that effectively remove faeces/slurry from the floor. Product manufacturers may require a scraper specifically designed for use with their flooring product to make sure the flooring is scraped effectively, meet the ammonia emission factor and prevent damage to the floor. This item can be used in conjunction with AQ1 automatic slurry scraper, where suitable for the flooring.
In pig buildings, to reduce ammonia emissions further, install trays under the slats to help the urine to drain off separately. You can also use curtains as baffles beneath the slatted area and scrapers in channels beneath slatted flooring which help remove slurry quickly and frequently. Transverse, trapezoid or toothed shaped slats with metal or plastic coating and larger rectangular openings work best to drain through slatted floors.
Get more advice
More detailed information about using this item is available through Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF). You may also be able to request a specialist farm advice visit from CSF, such as a farm infrastructure advisory report, a slurry and manure handling plan, or a conserving nitrogen through reducing ammonia emissions visit. You can find more information on CSF support online at Catchment Sensitive Farming: advice for farmers and land managers online.
You can find more information in:
Updates to this page
Last updated 5 January 2023 + show all updates
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The Requirements section of this page has been updated
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First published.