New technology should require minimum farmer attention and could be run with unskilled personnel. Manure can be removed from a barn or other farmstead location manually / mechanical systems. According to the abstracts, the daily output of cow manure can range from 18.7 kg to 107 kg per day. The average manure production of dairy cattle was found to be around 41.5 kg per head per day. Another study reported that the daily output of cow excrement, including feces and urine, can be assumed to be 55 kg per day. Lactating cows produce around 68 kg or about 68 liters of manure per day or more.

Manure with a 75 to 80 percent moisture content can usually be handled as a solid. Manure at this moisture content has a consistency of peanut butter. Dairy manure, as excreted, contains about 88 percent water. Cow (dung) manure becomes an excellent, nutrient-rich fertilizer and soil conditioner when it is properly aged or composted. Manure is not a fertilizer unless processed.

Selection of a removing method is typically based on cost, bedding type, barn design, labor availability, and operational preference and how this fits into the entire manure system

Manure removal systems   

• Skid steers
  • Loaders & Tractors
  • Vacuuming
  • Pushers
• Scraper systems
  • Cable
  • Chain
  • Rope
  • Hydraulic
  • Robotic
• Gutter cleaners
• Gravity using floors
• Slatted floors
• Flush systems that wash manure to a collection point.

Dairy farm manure systems

• Skid Steers
• Using a standard skid steer loader with specialized attachments like manure forks or grapples to efficiently handle and clear animal waste in agricultural settingsManure handling with a skid steer requires specialized attachments like manure fork buckets or manure grapple buckets, which are designed to manage loose or caked materials efficiently.
• Loaders
• Front-end tractor loaders can remove manure from large areas with high clearances. Traction and stability can be a problem, however; wide front axles can improve stability and weights on the rear wheels or front-wheel-assist can improve traction. Skid steer loaders can work in cramped quarters and, in general, lessen time and hand labor expended.
• Both manure loaders (tractor-mounted front loaders) and skid steers are effective for manure management on farms, but they excel in different areas due to design differences. Skid steers are known for their maneuverability in tight spaces and attachment versatility, while tractor loaders offer more power for heavy-duty hauling and better stability in open fields.

In some farms, small tractors with front- or rear-mounted blades are commonly used to scrape manure, and tractor scrapers function better in cold weather and tend to be more dependable than gutter scrapers.

Scraping systems

Manure scrapers are essential tools for maintaining hygiene in livestock housing, ranging from simple manual tools to complex automatic systems that save significant labor and improve animal health. These systems are available in various types tailored to different farm sizes, manure consistency, and floor types

Manure from bedded housing usually has to be handled as a solid. As a semisolid, manure can be scraped into a holding area where liquids are allowed to drain off. Scraping can be done mechanically by alley or by gutter scrapers pulled by cables or chains.

• Chain-Driven Scrapers: Best for mid-sized operations with straight alley layouts. They use a continuous loop of chain to move the scraper blades.
• Rope/Cable Scrapers: These are popular for their reliability and adaptability to different floor types, including those with slight inclines or curves. They use a robust rope or cable system for movement.
• Hydraulic Scrapers: Ideal for large-scale or complex operations with long distances or heavy slurry loads. They use a hydraulic pump system for powerful, consistent cleaning.
• Robotic Scrapers: Autonomous machines like the JOZ Barn-E are designed to navigate and clean solid floors, corners, and waiting areas without fixed installations, using sensors and pre-set routes. 

Gutter systems

Recommended for most manure conditions, especially for tie-stall or stanchion barns, except for those using sand bedding. They are also a good choice for feeding a hydraulic piston pump evenly. These systems use a continuous loop of heavy-duty chain (like 7/8″ logging style or pintle chain) with paddles (also called “flites”) to scrape manure along the gutter.gutter cleaners are primarily automated mechanical systems used in livestock barns to efficiently remove waste and promote a cleaner, healthier environment. These systems typically use chains, cables, or hydraulic power to move scrapers along a gutter. 

Gravity using floors

In agriculture and waste management, a gravity model for manure removal refers to a non-mechanical system designed to transport livestock waste from animal housing to storage using the natural force of gravity. Pros: Low energy costs, minimal mechanical maintenance, and simple installation in new or retrofitted barns. Cons: High risk of blockages from coarse bedding, frozen manure, or insufficient liquid “head”

Slatted floors

Manure removal in buildings with slatted floors is primarily achieved through a gravity-based design where waste falls through floor gaps (slits) into a collection area below. For larger operations or low-emission facilities, additional mechanical and automated systems are integrated to ensure hygiene and reduce ammonia buildup

• Deep Pit Systems: Common in pig and beef barns, manure passes through concrete slats directly into a storage pit (often 8 feet deep) located under the floor. This allows for long-term storage and later use as fertilizer.
• Mechanical Slatted Floor Scrapers: These are weighted blades pulled across the floor surface by chains, cables, or ropes to push manure into discharge channels. Versions include:
  • Rubberised Scrapers: Gentle on animal hooves and ideal for wide alleys up to 320 cm.
  • Galvanised Scrapers: More robust for heavy-duty use in wider alleys up to 460 cm.
• Manure Robots: Fully autonomous units, navigate the barn using gyroscopes and ultrasound to scrape floors without the need for fixed installations.
• Underfloor Scrapers: Mechanical scrapers that operate in the channels beneath the slats to transport waste to a central collection point or manure pile.
• Manure Belts: Primarily used in poultry housing, these belts sit directly under the slatted floor. Waste falls onto the belt and is automatically rolled out for removal, eliminating the need for a deep pit. 

Flush systems

That wash manure to a collection point. Manure flushing systems use a surge of water to collect and transport livestock waste from barn alleys or gutters to storage units like lagoons. These automated systems are common in dairy and swine facilities to reduce manual labor and improve air quality by frequently removing waste.

Underslat Flushing: Uses a shallow gutter located beneath slatted floors. A surge of water flushes manure from the gutter at regular intervals (typically 2–4 times daily).

Alley Flushing: Common in dairy free stall barns, where a layer of water is released directly onto the concrete alleys to wash manure to a collection pit.

Pit Recharge: Instead of a high-velocity scouring flush, the pit is drained by gravity and then immediately “recharged” with about 12 inches of liquid to keep solids in suspension and reduce gas production.

• Water Quality: Using recycled lagoon water can cause salt deposition in pipes. Some systems use closed-loop designs to provide higher quality flush water and reduce odors.
• Barn Design: Effective cleaning requires a specific floor slope (often 1.5% to 3%) and a flush velocity of at least 2.5 feet per second to “scour” the floor.
• Bedding Material: Sand-bedded barns require higher velocities (up to 10 fps) to prevent sand from settling and clogging the system.