Quick Facts...
- An average 1,000-pound horse produces 9 tons of manure a year containing
valuable fertilizer elements.
- Horse owners have a responsibility to manage the manure that is a
byproduct of their industry.
- Manure is commonly stockpiled prior to use. Adequate storage area
allows for greater flexibility in timing of manure use.
- Recordkeeping is an essential factor in land application of manure/compost.
- The total fertilizer value of the manure produced by Colorado’s
horses is estimated to be $10 million per year.
An average 1,000-pound horse produces 9 tons of manure a year (50 pounds
per day) containing valuable fertilizer elements. (See Table 1.) Add to
that an additional cubic foot of bedding material and you get 730 cubic
feet/year from one horse. How the manure is stored and treated has a substantial
impact on its value. The labor, storage and utilization costs for manure
management can be considerable.
Colorado’s horse industry uses two principal feed management systems,
according to a recent survey. The first system permits horses to graze
full-time on pastures, and the manure is not collected or treated. Pasture
manure usually is spread by harrow cultivation that promotes decomposition.
The second system confines animal feeding, which relies on intensive
management, and the horses are kept in stalls or runs. The horses may
be housed in box stalls and provided a bedding source for urine absorption.
Alternatively, horses are kept in corrals or runs, and some runs are attached
to stalls. Manure is managed in one or more of the following ways: 1)
compost (manure is removed daily and composted); 2) stockpile (manure
is removed daily and stored in piles); and, 3) daily land application
(manure is removed daily and spread on cropland).
Marketing Plan
Horse owners have a responsibility to manage the manure that is a by-product
of their industry. Develop a management plan for manure and soiled bedding.
Use it on crop lands, arena surfaces, trail surfaces, and landscaping.
If you don’t plan to use the manure yourself, develop a marketing
plan so others can make use of it.
Contract or donate compost to crop farmers and community landscapers
or parks, and neighborhood gardeners. Offer a discount to boarders if
they dispose of manure. The people who come to watch others ride are another
potential market for manure or compost sales. Before you can market the
product, it must be completely and properly composted and free of foreign
material such as pop cans, wire, and syringes.
Make an arrangement or contract with a landscaper, nursery or crop farmer.
Be prepared to handle your own by-product. One option may be to deliver
manure, at your cost, to a site where contractors do the composting. Pre-determine
the bedding types they prefer in their compost mix.
Manure Collection
Confinement Housing (Stalls, Drylots, and Runs). Daily maintenance of
horses in a confinement setting requires intensive labor. Horses housed
in stalls and sheds require soft absorbent bedding. The most common bedding
sources in Colorado are pine sawdust (80 percent), pine wood chips (17
percent), and straw (2 percent). Some other sources are shredded newsprint,
peanut shells, peat moss, rice hulls, etc. Remove manure and soiled bedding
on a regular basis and handle appropriately to prevent fly infestation
and disease transmission.
Pastures. Manure management in pastures depends primarily on getting
good distribution of manure across the pasture.To avoid manure concentration
in isolated spots in a pasture, distribute grazing evenly. Rotational
grazing is one of the best ways to achieve this goal; however, horse owners
don’t usually have large enough pastures for rotational grazing.
On the other hand, pastures can be split, and the horses moved back and
forth between both parts of the pasture to distribute the manure more
uniformly. Availability of several watering facilities and moving feeding
facilities periodically will encourage better manure distribution.
Avoid grazing during rainy periods when soils are saturated, to avoid
soil compaction and manure runoff. Restrict access to streams to avoid
manure deposition in or near water bodies. This can be done by fencing
or providing shade away from the streams. Refrain from excessive stocking
rates that lead to overgrazing. Damaging the grass stand increases manure
runoff potential from pastures.
Storage and Treatment
Stockpiling. Manure is commonly stockpiled prior to use. Adequate
storage area allows for greater flexibility in timing of manure use. Therefore,
be sure you have a large enough storage area to accommodate the manure produced.
Over time, the manure shrinks from decomposition and moisture loss.
Proper site selection for the storage area is important to safeguard
against surface and groundwater contamination. Place stockpiles at least
150 feet away from surface water (creeks and ponds) and wells. Establish
and maintain grass buffer strips between water bodies and manure piles.
Construct a perimeter ditch or berm around the storage area, if needed,
to prevent runoff onto or off of the area.
Composting produces a relatively dry end-product that is easily
handled and reduces the volume of the manure (40 percent to 65 percent
less volume and weight than the raw manure). Composting at proper temperatures
can kill fly eggs and larvae, pathogens and weed seeds. Compost has less
of an odor compared to raw manure and is more easily marketed. Composted
manure acts as a slow release fertilizer and an excellent soil conditioner.
To be done right, composting requires an investment of time and money.
Machinery required includes a tractor, a manure spreader and a front-end
loader. Some ammonia-nitrogen is lost during the composting process, and
an ammonia odor may result for a short period. When composting is done
on a large scale, additional land and machinery requirements exist.
Microbes that drive the composting process require optimum conditions
of temperature, moisture, oxygen, and carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio. The
C:N ratio should be between 25:1 and 30:1; horse manure has an estimated
C:N ratio of 50:1. With the addition of bedding material (high carbon
content), the C:N ratio will be even higher. Therefore, N has to be added
to the manure for it to compost properly. The addition of grass clippings,
hay, or fertilizer [25 to 30 pounds N/ton of manure (75 to 90 pounds of
ammonium nitrate or 50 to 65 pounds of urea)] should bring the C:N ratio
into the optimum range. When microbes work properly, the compost temperature
will be between 120 and 160 F. Cooler temperatures result from a lack
of N. When the composting process is complete, the temperature will cool
naturally.
It is important to have the right balance of moisture and air for the
microbes to process the manure. The compost should be moist but not soggy,
and may need to be watered or covered with plastic to maintain moisture.
Aerate the compost by turning it regularly. The manure and bedding particles
should be about one-half inch to one and a half inches in size. Composting
does require effort, but the result is a more easily used and economically
valuable fertilizer.
Utilization
Land Application. Recordkeeping is an essential factor in land
application of manure/compost. It is critical to know how much manure/compost
was applied to each field and when it was applied. Analyze manure/compost
regularly and record the lab results for future reference. Note changes
in nutrient value and factor them in when calculating future application
rates.
Manual loading and land application are labor intensive and impractical
for managing the manure generated by more than 25 horses. Consider mechanical
loading and application with a bobcat or tractor-operated loader when
the manure or the land application becomes large.
Apply the manure/compost uniformly to achieve an acceptable application
rate. The finer textured and more uniform the manure, the easier it is
to apply uniformly. Spreaders apply manure/compost at different rates
depending on ground speed, PTO speed, gear box settings, discharge openings,
and manure moisture and consistency.
Do not apply manure to land that is highly erodible, frozen or saturated.
To protect water sources from manure runoff, do not spread manure within
at least 150 feet of a water source (such as a well, creek or pond). Incorporate
manure into the soil as soon as possible. Mixing the manure with the soil
immediately reduces losses of manure nutrients to runoff and volatilization,
and reduces odor problems associated with manure left on the soil surface.
Base the manure/compost application rate on crop N needs and available
soil and manure N levels. Test your soil and manure for N levels at a
certified laboratory. In general, the higher a crop yield goal, the greater
the N requirements. Irrigated crops also tend to need more N. If yield
goals are lower than those shown in Table 2, decrease the manure application
rate and increase the land application area. If yields are higher, less
land is needed. Soils high in organic matter and nitrate have higher available
N in the soil and require less N.
| Table 1: Average fertilizer content in horse manure (as-is basis). |
|
N/ton
|
19 lb
|
|
P2O5/ton
|
14 lb
|
|
K2O/ton
|
36 lb
|
|
Table 2: Average manure application rates and
land base (area) requirements for forages.
|
|
Forage
|
Yield
|
Annual Horse Manure Application
|
Land Base Needed
|
| |
(tons/acre)
|
(tons/acre)
|
*(acres/horses/yr)
|
| Alfalfa |
2.0
|
15
|
0.6
|
| Alfalfa-grass |
2.0
|
10
|
0.8
|
| Bentgrass |
1.0
|
10
|
0.8
|
| Big bluestream |
1.5
|
5
|
1.8
|
| Birdsfoot trefoil |
1.5
|
12
|
0.8
|
| Bluegrass |
1.0
|
10
|
1.0
|
| Bromegrass |
1.5
|
10
|
1.0
|
| Little bluestem |
1.5
|
6
|
1.6
|
| Orchardgrass |
2.0
|
10
|
1.0
|
| Red clover |
1.5
|
10
|
0.8
|
| Reed canarygrass |
2.0
|
9
|
1.0
|
| Ryegrass |
2.0
|
11
|
0.8
|
| Switchgrass |
1.5
|
6
|
1.6
|
| Tall fescue |
2.0
|
13
|
0.6
|
| Timothy |
1.5
|
6
|
1.6
|
| Wheatgrass |
0.5
|
2
|
3.8
|
| *The land base needed is the cropland requirement for
manure application alone, not for grazing and forage needs. One ton
= 2,000 lbs. One acre = 43,560 sq ft. |
Landfill. Manure and compost are sometimes landfilled, dumped
in gullies and used to repair roads. These are not recommended practices
due to high runoff and leaching potential from gullies and roadways. If
the areas are not vegetated and are waterways for storm runoff, the potential
for runoff of manure nutrients into creeks and ponds is high. When excessive
nutrients exist in surface waters, plant and algal growth becomes extreme,
the oxygen supply is depleted, and fish can be killed.
Footing for Riding Arenas. An ideal arena surface provides resilient
footing for optimum horse performance. Drain the arena well, maintain
adequate depth to protect horses’ legs from contusions, and keep
the arena absorbent to hold moisture efficiently and prevent dust. The
arena surface also must be odor-free. Composted manure/bedding makes an
ideal surface addition when mixed with river sand and wood products. Uncomposted
manure and bedding results in ammonia fumes that can cause respiratory
problems in horses. Surface depth of compost depends on soil type and
climate; too much organic matter can hold excess moisture and may cause
the horses to slip and fall.
| Table 3: Maxium manure application rates to avoid
soil salinity problems. |
| Manure EC* |
|
Soil EC* |
|
| |
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
10
|
84 T/A
|
56 T/A
|
28 T/A
|
|
20
|
30 T/A
|
20 T/A
|
10 T/A
|
|
30
|
18 T/A
|
12 T/A
|
6 T/A
|
|
40
|
12 T/A
|
8 T/A
|
4 T/A
|
| *mmhos/cm; T = Ton; A = acre |
|
EC = electrical conductivity measured in units of millimhos/centimeter.
Note: The manure application rate should be based on N needs of
the crop within this maxium range. This table assumes that manure
is not incorporated, which is typical for perennial forage crops.
|
Precautions
Virtually no viral diseases are transmitted between horses and humans
through fecal material, but some bacteria and protozoans (such as E. coli
and Giardia) can be transmitted in this manner. Therefore, handle manure
carefully to prevent disease transmission. In addition, horse manure runoff
into waterways may produce fecal coliform contamination levels that can
be potentially hazardous to fish and anyone who drinks that water.
Runoff. Runoff water from dry lots, pastures, and manure storage
or compost areas carries pollutants (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and
bacteria) into surface waters. Avoid overirrigation of pastures. Build
berms or trenches to prevent water from entering or leaving dry lots and
manure storage and composting areas. Do not allow a creek or irrigation
canal to pass through drylots.
Parasite Prevention and Control. Horses pick up parasites by ingesting
grass, feed, or water that is contaminated with parasite larvae and eggs.
The most common internal parasites of horses are the ascarids, strongyles
(large and small), pinworms and bots.
Insect Control. Excellent fly-breeding conditions occur in mixtures
of manure, spilled feed and decaying bedding. To help eliminate these
areas, remove and spread the manure regularly and prevent accumulation
of other wastes. Composting at proper temperatures inhibits fly development.
Several pesticides can be used on manure piles to kill maggots. Cover
manure stockpiles or compost sites to exclude flies and prevent their
development.
Noncomposted manure piles can provide an ideal environment for the bumble
flower beetle white grub. White grubs feed on decaying manure; however,
these grubs do not damage home lawns. Therefore, there is no need to control
them.
Mosquitoes require standing water to reproduce; therefore, it is imperative
to prevent ponding of water in manure storage areas.
Salinity. Manure tends to be high in salts, which when land applied
at excessive rates, contribute to soil salinity. Soil salinity causes
plants to become water stressed or, in extreme cases, die. When manure
is not soil-incorporated, as in applications to pasture, the salts accumulate
on the soil surface unless they are leached into the subsoil. Irrigation
or rainfall may move salts out of the topsoil and move them into deeper
depths of the soil profile. If salinity levels in the soil and manure
are known, use Table 3 to determine acceptable maximum rates of manure
application for most forages to avoid excessive soil salinity (>4 mmhos/cm).
Weeds. A weed is an unwanted, out-of-place plant. Weeds compete
with crops for limited resources of water, nutrients and light. Manure
has contributed to weed problems where it has been applied to cropland.
Use composted manure to avoid these problems. When manure is composted,
the high temperatures achieved during the composting process kill most
weed seeds. Some weed infestations may be the result of overgrazing, not
due to manure applications.
Parasite Preventions and Controls
Deworm all horses on a regular schedule using an anthelmintic. Contact
a veterinarian for anthelmintic recommendations.
Manure management:
A. Remove all manure from stalls, small corrals, and paddocks on a daily
basis.
B. Compost all manure to a temperature of 145 F for at least two weeks
to kill most parasite eggs, or compost at lower temperatures for longer
periods of time.
C. Spread manure on pastures only after composting.
D. Manure that has not been composted should be spread only on crop land
or other ungrazed, vegetated areas.
Pasture management:
A. Mow two to four times a year and chain harrow (drag) to break up
manure piles and expose parasite eggs to the elements.
B. Don’t overstock.
C. Practice rotational grazing if possible.
D. Graze young horses separately from older horses; the younger horses
have a higher susceptibility to parasites.
E. Follow horses with cattle or sheep before returning a pasture to
horses. This interrupts the life cycles of horse parasites.
F. Deep harrow or plow pastures that are badly parasite-infested. Deep
plow pastures and reseed every three to five years. This also helps
break parasite cycles.
Feed and water management:
A. Use feeders, racks, bunks or mangers for feeding hay and grain. This
will prevent feed from getting mixed with feces. Don’t feed off the
ground.
B. Provide horses a clean, fresh drinking water supply.
C. Avoid water contaminated with feces.
Resources
Spencer, W., and D. Tepfer. 1993. 3.762, Economics of composting feedlot
manure. Colorado State University Extension.
Wilson, C.R., and J.R. Feucht. 1991. 7.212, Composting yard waste. Colorado
State University Extension.
Waskom and Davis. 1999. BMPs for Manure Management, Colorado State University
bulletin no. 568a.
|
