At its dairy operation in the Yorkshire Dales, the introduction of new separators has given Metcalfe Farms the opportunity to futureproof the pumps it uses to transfer large volumes of slurry from its 2,000 (1,300 dairy) cows. Separating slurry has undoubted benefits, but putting together a streamlined slurry transfer system covering three tanks, has presented plenty of challenges, especially with the need to feed the site’s 200kWh biogas plant. Aside from the separators, one of first issues was to address the final pump in sequence that ultimately sends slurry (about 6% to 8% dry matter) about 120 meters (and 10 meters of lift) up to the 3,500m3 anaerobic digester. Annoying bits and pieces inevitably find their way into slurry, which was enough to make the pump block quite regularly. “I used to dread coming down here to sort it out,” said Robert Metcalfe, who oversees all things engineering on the…