Integrated manure utilization system life-cycle value assessment

Additional areas of research include investigation of the impact that the IMUS could have on the livestock industry, regional economies, quality of life for surrounding residents, and the productivity of the surrounding ecosystem. [...] Finally, overall conclusions are drawn from the results of the analysis including an identification of gaps that exist within the current information, future barriers to implementation of the IMUS, and opportunities that proponents of the IMUS should consider. [...] As the table indicates, the primary interest of the project participants is to compare IMUS to the current practice of manure management, land spreading. [...] The ‘by-products’ of the IMUS, relative to the functional unit, are 743 MWh of electricity, 195 kW of heat, 31 tonnes of marketable nitrogen in the form of biofertilizer, the disposal of 93 cows and 1,110,000 litres of water recovered. [...] In assessing the economic viability of IMUS, it is important to consider the impact of potential changes to key economic factors, such as the price of equipment or the market value of the products produced.