Dairy Manure Separation Systems Reduce Handling Costs While Staying Compliant

The Manure Management Challenge for Dairy Farms

Dairy farms with 500–5,000 cows face a consistent operational reality: the volume of manure production is growing while the costs and complexity of management remain high. This creates compounding financial and operational pressures:

Infrastructure and Storage Demands

Large-volume liquid manure requires significant storage capacity. Many operations rely on lagoon systems that accumulate solids over time, requiring periodic cleaning and dredging to maintain capacity.[attached_file:1] This process is labor-intensive and disrupts normal farm operations.

Regulatory Complexity

Phosphorus limits for land application are tightening in concentrated dairy regions. Environmental management plans now require that farms document how they manage nutrients—and raw manure application often exceeds these nutrient loading limits, forcing operations to haul waste further or risk non-compliance.

Labor and Operational Strain

Managing high-volume manure handling places ongoing demands on farm labor and equipment. Between moving, storing, and applying manure, this represents significant operational strain in an industry already facing workforce challenges.

What Is Manure Separation and How  Solid-Liquid Systems Work

Manure separation mechanically drives manure into two streams: a concentrated solid and a cleaner, low-TSS liquid. This provides advantages across storage, hauling, and land application.

Reduced Volume and Lower Hauling Costs

By removing suspended solids from the liquid, the volume requiring storage or haul-away decreases. This translates to fewer trips and lower operating costs.

 Improved Nutrient Management

The separation process concentrates nutrients in the solid fraction while reducing nutrient load in the liquid. For farms managing phosphorus limits, this allows more flexibility in land application decisions.

Reusable Byproduct Potential

Separated solids can be reused in various ways, including:

• Bedding material for livestock
• Compost feedstock
• Fertilizer
• Other agricultural reuse applications

Cleaner, Low-TSS Liquid

The resulting liquid effluent contains fewer suspended particles, which reduces issues with irrigation equipment clogging when the liquid is applied to land.

DT Series: A Purpose-Built Manure Dewatering System for Dairy Operations

The Centrisys/CNP DT Series decanter centrifuge is engineered specifically for dairy manure processing. Unlike general-purpose separation equipment adapted from other industries, the DT Series is designed for the specific demands of dairy farming.

Design Features

High-Grade Wear Protection: Dairy manure consistency varies based on diet, bedding type, and housing system. The DT Series incorporates wear-resistant materials to handle this variability over extended operation.

Corrosion-Resistant Materials: Agricultural environments are harsh. Equipment must withstand exposure to acidic manure and outdoor weather conditions without degradation.

Compact Integration: The DT Series operates with a typical footprint of approximately 10×20 feet, making retrofit installations practical for existing facilities without major infrastructure changes.

Operational Characteristics

Automated, Continuous Operation: PLC-controlled systems allow continuous processing with minimal manual oversight—important for farms already managing labor constraints.

No Chemical Additives Required: Mechanical separation achieves results without ongoing polymer or chemical costs.

Designed for Long-Term Use: Field-tested equipment designed for durability and consistent performance across many years of dairy manure processing.

Real-World Manure Separation Results from DT Series Installations

Featured Manure Separation Case Study: Bettencourt Dairy (Wendell, Idaho)

Operation Profile

• 13,000 Jersey dairy cows in crossvent scraped barns
• 234,000+ gallons of manure generated daily (18 gal/cow/day)
• 200 acre-foot waste lagoon
• Previous separation: Slope screens removing only coarse material

The Challenge

Bettencourt Dairy was dredging its entire 200 acre-foot lagoon annually at significant cost, removing several feet of accumulated solids just to maintain winter storage capacity. When they added cross vents and vacuum trucks to improve barn manure handling, they needed a separation solution that could keep pace with increased processing demands while meeting nutrient management plan requirements.

More DT Series Success Stories

The Bettencourt results aren't unique—dairies across the country are achieving similar performance:

Toledo Dairy (Kuna, Idaho) — 4,000 cows

• Challenge: Elevated phosphorus levels in lagoon water used for crop irrigation; annual lagoon cleaning with pumps and loaders
• Solution: CS21-4DT centrifuge after slope screen (installed July 2019)
• Results: 50% improvement in total solids capture; 30% phosphorus removal; reduced annual lagoon cleaning from 4+ feet of solids to just 12 inches; more liquid applicable per acre due to lower phosphorus
• Read the full Toledo Dairy case study

Deer Valley Dairy (Fort Morgan, Colorado) — 5,000+ cows (expanding to 9,000)

• Challenge: New facility needed manure recycling system for flush water while minimizing lagoon management costs during expansion
• Solution: Two-stage system with slope screen + CS21-4HCDT centrifuge processing one-third of screened manure
• Results: Centrifuged liquid consistently below 1.4% TSS; nearly 50% phosphorus reduction; easy center pivot irrigation with no clogging; minimized lagoon solids accumulation; system designed to scale with herd growth
• Read the full Deer Valley Dairy case study

Why Choose DT Centrifuge vs. Other Separation Systems

When evaluating manure separation systems, understanding the performance differences between technologies helps you choose the right solution for your operation.

Made in America, Supported Nationwide

The DT Series combines domestic manufacturing with comprehensive field support.​

• Manufactured in Kenosha, Wisconsin: U.S.-based production means same-day parts shipping, no customs delays, and direct factory support when you need it.​
• Nationwide service network: Factory-trained technicians across all major dairy regions provide installation, maintenance, and emergency support.​
• Direct engineering access: Our technical team provides phone and remote support for troubleshooting, optimization, and operational questions—no overseas delays or language barriers.​
• Multi-brand service capability: Our technicians service all centrifuge brands, not just Centrisys equipment, providing comprehensive support for your entire operation.​
• 15+ year operational life: Robust construction and proper maintenance support ensures decades of reliable service, not just a few years before replacement
  

Support from Our Partnerships Throughout the Life of Your Equipment

When you buy a Centrisys centrifuge, you receive a network of service and support from our partners who are local experienced dealers. They help execute the installations and have local employees to help support your centrifuge.

• Dairy Specialists supplies commercial dairy farms with innovative parlor designs, new construction and remodels

System Customization for Your Operation

Every dairy has unique infrastructure, available space, and operational goals. DT Series installations are customized based on your specific operation.

Assessment Factors

During the feasibility analysis, Centrisys/CNP evaluates:

• Herd size and daily manure volume
• Housing type (freestall, compost barn, tiestall)
• Existing manure handling infrastructure
• Available space and electrical/water utilities
• Processing goals (phosphorus reduction targets, byproduct recovery, etc.)

Integration Options

Retrofit into Existing Systems: The DT Series can integrate into current lagoon systems or work with existing manure handling equipment with minimal facility disruption.

Standalone Configuration: For new facilities or major upgrades, a complete turnkey system includes pumps, controls, and discharge equipment.

Scalable Design: Systems can be designed to accommodate herd growth or added processing capacity through modular expansion.

Environmental Compliance & Phosphorus Reduction Support

Phosphorus management is becoming a critical regulatory requirement in concentrated dairy regions. Manure separation supports compliance by reducing phosphorus load in application liquid.

How This Works: Raw dairy manure typically contains phosphorus at concentrations exceeding crop nutrient requirements. Separation concentrates phosphorus in the solid fraction, allowing the liquid fraction to be applied at higher rates without exceeding phosphorus loading limits.

Regulatory Context: EPA CAFO permits and state nutrient management plans increasingly restrict phosphorus application. Separation provides a mechanical solution that doesn't require chemical treatment or off-farm disposal of all excess manure.