Maneuver Lagoon

Manure management is a growing concerns among livestock producers worldwide. Pressure from neighbors, organizations, and regulators to reduce odors and implement good management practices has never been higher. Maneuver is an environmentally safe method of controlling solids and odors using naturally-occurring bacteria to treat waste.

Maneuver Lagoon Reduces Manure Solids:

Reduces agitation time

Lowers clean out expense

No need for special equipment

Maneuver Lagoon Reduces Manure Odor:

More cost effective than other treatment solutions

Ahead of regulatory compliance

Reduces the likelihood of neighbor complaints

Maneuver Lagoon is Environmentally Safe:

Utilizes natural bacteria

Safe to handle and store

Chemical free

Step 1: Apply a one time "shock treatment" of your lagoon. Please refer to the Maneuver Usage Chart to determine the amount to use.

Step 2: Continue with bi-monthly treatments. Please refer to the Maneuver Usage Chart to determine the bi-monthly amount based on the number of animals in your operation.

What is Maneuver?

Maneuver contains bacteria which are live microorganisms that breakdown and degrade waste through digestion. By- products of this process are water and natural carbon dioxide, however, enzymes are also produced which acts as a means to speed digestion. Bacteria attach to solid particles, secrete enzymes, and start to eat and can multiply at a very fast rate when well fed, doubling in number every 10 to 15 minutes.

What's the theory behind using a bacteria to treat waste?

In general, the idea is called bacterial seeding and is common in municipal wastewater treatment systems. The objective is to supplement the naturally-occurring bacterial  with strains selected to specifically help accelerate and improve the efficiency of the treatment process. This is not to replace existing bacteria but rather to facilitate a slow shift in the overall microbial population. Ongoing reseeding is required based on incoming flow in order to maintain an effected quantity of beneficial bacteria.

How does Maneuver affect solids and odor?

The bacteria in Maneuver accelerate digestion and liquefies the solids making it easier to agitate pump and irrigate. A lagoon treated with Maneuver can be pumped with reduced frequency as well as be pumped lower due to reduced plugging issues. Because solids are predigested, treated manure will soak into the soil more quickly with less chance of caking on the field surface after transferring to cropland. Manure treated with maneuver is less offensive smelling to you and your neighbors. In fact, by increasing the activity level of the bacteria in the lagoon, Maneuver actually mitigates foul odors from the onset.

How does Maneuver help reduce odors?

Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs), which are formed from the soluble material, are closely associated with the production of odors by their conversion into biogas (partly methane) by methane-forming bacteria. In warm climates this process happens year round, whereas in cooler climates the VFAs accumulate and are released during the warm seasons. Regardless of climate and seasonality, Maneuver has proven effective in reducing the concentration of those odor-contributing  VFAs and can be used in aerobic and anaerobic treatment designs.

Does the manure treated with Maneuver still have value to crop production?

Yes. Due to the digestion process, a lot of the nitrogen in the manure is bound up in the cells of the bacteria that have been growing in the lagoon. This organic form of nitrogen will be released to a growing crop as the bacteria slowly breakdown in the soil. Crops can be burned with untreated manure when over applied due to the high levels of ammonia and other fast acting nitrogen. In this way, Maneuver stabilizes waste nutrients and is the primary reason odors are prevented from forming.

What makes Maneuver beneficial to a lagoon?

Large dairy operations have lagoons that are constructed similar to those found in small cities or towns. Typically, they're constructed on a multi-stage design so liquids will flow from one lagoon to the next naturally. For example, in a series of three lagoons, liquids in the last lagoon will be progressively cleaner than the second and first. The primary purpose of this design is to settle solids and prevent them from flowing into the next lagoon. Unless the dairy lagoon has design features and operates equipment to treat these solids further, the lagoon becomes just a storage system to contain the manure until it is pumped out and irrigated onto cropland for its nutrient value. Accumulation of solids typically either build up on the bottom of form a crust on the surface making it very difficult to agitate, pump and irrigate. In this scenario, odors can be very intense and if nothing is done to correct this, the loss of the holding capacity over the years would have to be corrected though expensive excavation of the solids. By breaking down solids, Manuever can effectively and affordable help turn a lagoon storage system in a lagoon treatment system.

Does lagoon size and construction matter?

No. Manuever has been developed for use in any type of configuration - even single stage designs.

How do I know how much Maneuver is needed to be effective?

We've designed Maneuver around a simple 2-step treatment process. The first step is an initial shock treatment that "conditions" the existing lagoon contents. The second step is an ongoing bi-monthly application based on the amount of manure produced by contributing animals and the related volume of wash water used. Treatment can begin anytime, regardless of lagoon level at the time of treatment, whether irrigating or not. A usage guide is available with each order.

Will Maneuver work in frozen winter climates?

Yes. Just like VFAs that continue to accumulate in harsh winter climates, Maneuver remains active even under ice.

What is the current regulatory environment for manure management?

We strongly urge you to consult your local resources with questions related to manure management as each state and municipality addresses this topic independently of one another. Nationally, however, regulations set forth  by the EPA in 2003, outline a strategy to minimize adverse impact on water quality and public health from improper management. The national Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) expanded and revised regulations for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) and continue to update rules on an ongoing basis. Maneuver has been developed as a tool to help livestock owners comply with the changing regulatory climate.