• Storing Manure

  • Storing Manure

    unattended manure buildup

    Manure is something we horse owners all have to deal with.  Where do we put it?  Can we repurpose it?  How?  Simply dumping all the manure into a giant pile creates an ideal breeding ground for flies and other insects and can also conceal intestinal parasites.  After a rainfall, as surface water leaves the manure pile, it picks up nutrients and pathogens that are carried downstream through runoff, or leached into the groundwater.  Still, manure must be stored for a period of time, and proper storage facilities are essential.

    The location of your manure pile should be well away from any open body of water so as not to contaminate surface water.  Low areas which are subject to runoff should also be avoided.  There are several options for storing the manure pile: a three-walled structure with cover works well, or a covered manure spreader.  The structure should have an appropriate flooring material which will prevent contaminants from leaching into groundwater.  A concrete slab or layer of compacted soil will do the trick.  Build the walls out of boards or cinder blocks.  A freestanding manure pile should stand on top of a concrete pad or compacted clay.  Covering the manure pile will reduce runoff and seepage from the storage area.

    manure wagon or spreader

    manure wagon or spreader

    Making Compost

    When manure is stored, microorganisms in the soil immediately start to break down the organic components into smaller particles, recycling those nutrients back into the soil.  Composting essentially speeds up this process by creating ideal conditions for the microbes to do their work.  In addition, composting will kill parasite eggs and larvae, along with weed seeds, if it is done correctly.  The Compost Cover allows air and moisture into the manure pile and also holds in heat.  Airflow into the compost pile is essential, as it allows the microorganisms to breathe.  The breakdown of organic materials in manure and bedding releases water, heat, and carbon dioxide.  Retaining this heat speeds up the rate of decomposition and is also necessary to kill parasites, fly larvae, and weed seeds.

    A shallow, dense manure pile without proper air flow will allow anaerobic conditions in the bottom of the pile, creating an ideal condition for fly breeding and strong odors.  In addition, runoff is high along the sloped sides of the manure pile, while water stands stagnant in the bottom.  Using the Compost Coverin conjunction with walls to contain the manure pile reduces runoff while allowing rainfall to soak into the pile and make its moisture content more uniform.  Walls and a proper floor also aid in turning the pile, which introduces oxygen and speeds composting.  Proper manure storage with a Compost Cover and walls creates a deeper, more compact manure pile that retains heat, even in winter, which is essential to good composting.

    Cover Compost with a mesh net from HorseFlyNet®

    written by Kelly Bowman  kellybowman8@gmail.com (copy right 2013) for www.horseflynet.com who make the best Compost Cover™