Sand bedding is widely used by dairies to maintain cow comfort. Producers who bed with sand are also familiar with managing sandladen manure and the role sand plays throughout their farm. However, even dairies that do not intentionally use sand must contend with nuisance sand, an often unseen contributor that can disrupt dairy manure systems and nutrient management.
Nuisance sand is unintentional, fine and difficult to control. It enters manure systems through environmental exposure, feed, equipment and animal movement, accumulating in pits, lagoons and anaerobic digesters over time. When left unmanaged, nuisance sand can create operational challenges that reduce system efficiency and increase maintenance costs.
Sources of Nuisance Sand
One of the most common sources of nuisance sand is winddeposited blow sand. Fine, dry sand from fields, roads and open areas can be carried by wind and settle into dry lots, freestalls and manure storage areas. This is especially problematic in dry or sandy regions.
Runoff from surrounding fields or pastures can also introduce sand during heavy rain or snowmelt events. Without proper drainage or vegetation, loose soil and sand can wash into manure pits or lagoons, adding sediment and altering manure composition. Sandladen manure can also affect soil structure, nutrient availability and longterm crop performance.
Equipment and feed sources further contribute to nuisance sand. Sand and fine soil can collect on equipment and be mixed into manure during daily operations. Similarly, feed sources, particularly silage stored on dirt floors or ground-level bunkers, can pick up small amounts of sand, which then pass through the animals' digestive systems and ends up in manure.
Why Managing Sand Matters
Whether wanted or unwanted, sand presents challenges in manure management. Sandladen manure is heavier and abrasive, accelerating wear on equipment. Increased wear can lead to more frequent maintenance and unexpected downtime.
Sand management is particularly critical for dairies using anaerobic digesters. Excess sand displaces organic material and can interfere with digester performance, requiring costly cleanouts, reducing renewable energy output and compromising operational efficiency.
Strategies to Reduce and Remove Sand
Dairies can reduce nuisance sand through a combination of strategies. Windbreaks such as trees, fencing or fabric barriers can help limit blow sand around open lots and manure storage areas. Storing bedding indoors and keeping equipment clean also reduces the amount of sand entering the manure stream.
Separation technologies play a key role in sand management. Sand lanes and mechanical separators capture larger particles early, while hydrocyclones and centrifugal systems remove finer sand using Gforce. Using multiple separation methods together can significantly improve sand removal efficiency.
Key Takeaways
Nuisance sand is an unavoidable challenge. Identifying the primary sources of nuisance sand including wind, runoff, feed contamination, equipment carryover and animal movement, is the first step. By implementing proactive sand management strategies, dairies can extend equipment lifespan, reduce maintenance costs and optimize manure handling efficiency.
To learn more about sand separation technologies, visit mclanahan.com/solutions/dairy.
