A hanwoo in a barn on a livestock farm. (Image: Yonhap)
SEJONG, April 24 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korean livestock farms generated more than 50 million tons of manure last year, with most of it being repurposed as compost and liquid fertilizer, according to a government survey.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on April 24 the results of its 2023 livestock environmental survey, which was conducted on over 15,000 sample farms across the country.
The survey found that livestock manure production in South Korea reached 50.87 million tons in 2023. Pig manure accounted for the largest share at 19.67 million tons (39%), followed by cattle manure at 17.51 million tons (34%).
Farms handled 51.5% of the manure directly, while the remaining 48.5% was outsourced to processing facilities.
The majority of farmers reported utilizing livestock manure as compost (73%) and liquid fertilizer (12%). Excluding pig manure, most waste was repurposed as compost.
To mitigate odors, 55% of livestock farms employed equipment or facilities such as misting systems, while 62% used microbial agents.
The survey also examined energy consumption levels, revealing that the average annual electricity usage per head of livestock was 1,061 kilowatt-hours for dairy cows, 842 kilowatt-hours for beef cattle, 112 kilowatt-hours for pigs, 49 kilowatt-hours for chickens, and 11 kilowatt-hours for ducks.
Beef cattle farms devoted significant energy to small freezers, while dairy farms consumed more power for milk cooling systems.
Most livestock operations relied on tax-exempt diesel fuel and employed measures like installing shade curtains during summer and utilizing renewable energy sources to reduce overall energy consumption.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
