Water is a valuable commodity on the dry plains of northwest
Oklahoma. So any opportunity to conserve and recycle this
precious resource is a real bonus to businesses like the farrow-to-wean hog operation owned by Chuck and Wathina Luthi. An important aspect to the Luthis’ manure management system
is how the manure is treated prior to flushing the pits, as well as
when it is situated in both stages of the lagoon. They treat the
manure with commercial pit additives, which are part of the overall
Hog Wash system. This system provides a number of benefits,
starting with reduced odor and hydrogen sulfide emissions.
Wathina says it is a natural carbon-based product that not only
improves the working environment in the barns, but also breaks down the manure solids. After eight years in operation, their farm
still has not had any issues with solid build-up in the lagoons, nor
have they had to invest in any mechanical systems to aerate them.