Treatment plants for pig farm effluent : estimated costs and economic implications

Through the joint efforts of companies and farmers implementing different processes for treating pig farm effluent, it has been possible to collect technical and economic information to assess efficacy and calculatecosts for each process. The results obtained range widely, with costs remaining high. These results are linked to the type of process used and are sensitive to how the plant is run. The economic results presented state the costs specific to the treatment. Production costs and overall profitability range according to what proportion of the total liquid manure produced is treated. The pig farmer has to optimise not only the economic impact, but also the tax and social implications of the treatment by integrating treatment costs into overall business strategy.