The Scoop on Poop: Livestock Manure Management
 | Author:
Allison Kosto, MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent |
The Scoop on Poop: Livestock Manure Management
Allison Kosto
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
As we all know, our county has grown exponentially in the last decade. People who move to subdivisions often have a desire to own livestock. You may be one of these people. However, each subdivision has its own covenants and rules regarding livestock ownership and management. This is because owning livestock is complex, especially on small acres. Large ranches have more space and flexibility to manage and care for livestock. However, on small acres, you have a limited amount of space to work with and have the additional complication of being close to neighbors who are watching (or smelling) your every move. Careful planning and consideration are needed for livestock on small acres, from grazing management to manure, which is the focus of this article.
Accumulated manure is an issue because it can lead to issues with health, odor, pest and water quality problems. Not to mention that most neighbors don’t want to be living next to a pile of poo. It’s really amazing how quickly it can accumulate, too. A single horse can produce 35 to 50 pounds of manure and urine a day, which equals 11 cubic yards or 9 tons each year. This doesn’t even consider bedding or hay waste that also often accumulates with animals. Planning ahead on how to take care of manure is essential.
In most cases, you are going to need to find a way to stockpile the manure either short-term or long-term. Stockpiling manure is as simple as it sounds. It's choosing a location to create a pile of manure, bedding and discarded hay. However, this location should be chosen carefully. For convenience, you want it somewhat close to the animals’ housing, but that shouldn’t be the only consideration. It should be somewhere that does not accumulate water. You also don’t want a steep location that threatens runoff into streams or lakes. Manure can contain pollutants, including bacteria, phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matter that threaten aquatic ecosystems as well as humans. Finally, consider aesthetics. Be considerate of your neighbors and people driving by.
The stockpile area should be firm, ideally lined with gravel or concrete. A slight slope (1 to 3%) is ideal, but not too much as mentioned earlier. It is also beneficial to have a vegetative strip around or below the manure stockpile to function as a filter.
Composting is another option for manure that potentially has greater benefits but is more labor-intensive. Composting takes manure and material and turns it into a high-quality soil amendment. A pile left alone is not composting; it is decomposing. True composting takes work and includes adding moisture and aerating (turning). When done correctly, the center of the pile will reach 140 degrees F, which kills pathogens and aids in decomposition. Another important downside of composting is that the odor is typically stronger than traditional manure stockpiles. This is important to take into consideration on subdivisions, especially if you are composting a large quantity of material.
The next important consideration is what to do with the material. Compost is much more versatile. It can be used on gardens, lawns and pastures as a soil conditioner. However, stockpiled manure should be used more carefully because it is not fully broken down. Manure should be stockpiled for at least three years prior to using it in a garden or lawn. Chances are that if you have livestock, then you are likely also have a pasture or grazing area. A common solution is to purchase or rent a manure spreader and spread it out on this area. You should do this at least four weeks before grazing. Be cautious about spreading too heavily because it can smother the grasses.
Sometimes it may not be feasible to stockpile or compost on your own property, and the waste needs to be hauled away. You might be lucky to find a landowner who will take it for you. If not, you can always take it to public waste disposal sites. Broadwater County will accept manure at its Indian Creek transfer station. Because manure is considered agricultural waste, it is not included in your general assessment fee. The cost to dump it here is $65 per ton. Another option is Logan Landfill, which will accept manure at the rate of $10 per ton. It is recommended that you call first to either location before bringing it, so they are ready for you.
We all know that poop is one of the less fun parts of owning livestock, but it’s part of the deal. Planning ahead can make a world of difference! If you have further questions about manure management or caring for small acres, contact MSU Extension in Broadwater County at 406-266-9242 or allison.kosto@montana.edu.
