The machinery team headed to Teagasc Kildalton College in south Kilkenny last week to investigate how much fuel and power it takes to agitate a tank of slurry. This job is probably not one that every contractor or farmer enjoys having to do. But it is essential to the process and handling of slurry on the farm.The slurry tank used in the college was attached to the dairy shed. The cows’ diet comprises grass silage at 71% DMD. Denis Pey, a Kildalton College technician, carried out a dry matter (DM) test on the slurry using a hydrometer. This showed us that the slurry in this tank had high water content. It could be expected on this farm because of the number of times the dairy is washed and the water collected by the tank. This test was carried before and after agitation, giving a result of 5% before 2.5% after agitation. The amount of water in the tank diluted the DM content and, ultimately, the nutrient value of the slurry.