Slurry grants helped Cumbria dairy farm upgrade for the future

Moorhouse Hall Farm in Wigton, Cumbria, made the most of new grants to future-proof their operations by upgrading their slurry storage system.

They were able to replace their old, deteriorating store with a new, concrete-sided option that complies with regulations and provides long-term environmental protection and cost savings for their farm.

Alongside his career as a vet, Chris Bailey works on the farm part-time with his parents, full-time farmers John and Kate.

The family bought the 130-acre farm less than two years ago. It offers a grass-based, multi-cut silage system for 100 pedigree Holsteins, with exceptionally high £PLI.

The herd calves all year round and the Baileys try to graze cows as much as possible, depending on ground conditions and the weather.

Cows usually go out in April and come back in overnight from September. Although they may graze during the day in October.

The Farm joined our Strategic Dairy Farm programme in October last year, focusing on infrastructure changes, getting the most out of its multi-cut silage system, and improving overall farm productivity.

Chris said:

“Our focus is to keep making small improvements where and when the finances allow.

"These include the grazing infrastructure such as the cow tracks and field access so we can stretch the season out, as well as increasing the number of silage clamps from two to four and installing rubber matting in the parlour.

"We’re also a bit limited for slurry storage at the moment.”

When they purchased the farm, it came with the relevant building permissions to upgrade or build a new slurry store on the farm.

“The old slurry store has capacity for our herd. However, it was starting to get quite old, and it needed a lot of repair work.

"When we purchased Moorhouse Hall, we knew the slurry store needed upgrading as the existing one was no longer suitable for use, so we planned to build a new store from the beginning and benefit from Defra’s slurry infrastructure grant.

“With the grants offering good value, with a 50% saving and us already having planning permission, we decided to build the new store in time for when the cows are housed over winter,” says Chris.

After considering alternatives like earth-banked lagoons, slurry bags, underground storage systems, and anaerobic digestion tanks, Chris chose a dug-in, concrete-sided slurry store.

This choice offers structural integrity, environmental protection, and efficiency. Its durability ensures a long lifespan and prevents leaks, safeguarding groundwater and soil.

Despite the initial cost, this option provides long-term savings on maintenance and repairs, making it a cost-effective slurry storage option.

The Baileys used our Slurry Wizard tool to help them make their final decision.

This tool allowed them to calculate the necessary storage capacity to comply with regulations such as NVZ and SSAFO standards.

It uses farm-specific factors like livestock numbers, local rainfall, and wash water to provide accurate storage requirements.

“We went for a dug-in, concrete-sided store to offer the best use of space and best value for money.

"We already knew where we wanted the store to be; it was just a case of getting the funds to complete this and applying for the grant,” says Chris.

The new store offers ample storage capacity and allows for future herd expansion.