Fermented Flooring for Livestock - Japan - ARI
by the Asian Rural Institute
submitted August 2014
VIDEO - Fermented Flooring for Livestock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3cg6qM1uyc
Jil san shares how we make fermented flooring for the ARI pigpens
Notes on the materials that we use to make fermented floor
June 2021 Update:
Sawdust
This is the main material for the floor. Any dry organic matter can be used; wood chips, dry grass, rice or wheat straw, and chopped corn stalks are some examples. We recommend that you use whatever material that is locally available.
Ash/agricultural lime
The floor will become acidic when manure and urine is mixed in, so alkaline materials such as ash help balance the pH of the floor. At ARI, we use ash made by burning bones and eggshells. It is okay to use agricultural lime, but since the pigs might eat the floor materials, we cannot use hydrated lime which is toxic.
Salt
Salt helps IMOs break down the dry material (fiber) faster. The pigs will also dig the floor and promote decomposition as they look for minerals, including salt.
Red soil
Red soil that is dug up from about 1m below ground contains many minerals. The pigs will be looking for minerals, so they will dig the floor, promoting decomposition. Eventually, the decomposed floor will be used as compost for the farm, so adding materials will make the compost be more nutritionally balanced.
IMOs
Microorganisms do the work of decomposing. Anything that contains microorganisms such as bokashi, IMO 3, or tsuchi-koji will work.
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