Horse Manure:A Renewable Resource

My Horse University and eXtension’s HorseQuest welcome you to this live Webcast. The presentation will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Dr. Ann Swinker

My Horse University and eXtension’s HorseQuest welcome you to this live Webcast.

Horse Manure:A Renewable Resource

Dr. Ann SwinkerRobb Meinen Penn State University

Meet our presenter:

Dr. Ann SwinkerPenn State University

Mike HarperPenn State University

Question facilitator:

Confined Animal Housing• An attractive safe

area• Generates manure

and bedding• Requires more

management

More Work??• Cleaning stalls• Picking up manure in paddocks /pens

Manure Management PlansLanes & Gates

Hard Surface

CompostingWaterDrainage

Neighboring Property

Land Capability

PLAN??

Must also consider…• Zoning Regulations, Guidelines• Nutrient Management Regulations• Building Codes• New zoning guidelines and nutrient

management regulations

Staying On Top Of the Pile• Actively compost all stall waste• Stockpile manure & stall waste for crop fields needs

and spread when possible.• Haul manure & stall waste off property

– Reduce the amount of bedding used– Give away

Manure Handling Site• Consider topography and flood patterns when

developing manure facilities.– Not near streams

– Not in Flood-prone areas

– Not on steep hillsides

– Flat, impermeable, deep water table

Storage Sitting

Dry - Manure Storage Stock piled for future use

Composting on site

Both Require a Storage Site

• Select a high dry spot• Keep away from bodies of

water• Easily accessible• Confine the pile• Treat any runoff

Constructing – A Hard Surface

• Concrete/macadam pad• Create a hard surface with

layers of stone aggregate topped with finer stone.

• Surround your storage pad with vegetation to filter out run off.

How Much ?? Waste SpaceOne 1,000 lbs. horse produces ~45 lbs. manure daily+ Bedding= 730 cubic feet/year of waste to manage per 1,000s of animal.

Traditional Use of Manure

• Manure contains organic matter• Organic matter is good for soil health & structure

ManureCommercial fertilizer vs.

Applying Manure/Bedding Fresh• Improve the health

of grass• Apply according to

soil test• Good idea to keep

animals off pasture for a few days

• When weather permits

Haul Off the Property

• Haul manure & stall waste off property

• PA Mushroom Growers contact with horse farms to remove manure and straw.

• Compost all stall waste

Absorption of Bedding TypesMaterial (lbs water absorbed/lbs

bedding)

Wood Products•Pine

–Chips–Sawdust–Shavings

•Hardwood Chips

3.02.52.01.5

Shredded newspaper 1.6

Straw•Oats•Wheat

2.52.2

Hay (mature) 3.0

CompostingNatural aerobic process for stabilizing Natural aerobic process for stabilizing

organic matterorganic matter

Well composted manure has humus Well composted manure has humus smell, 25-50% volume reduction, and smell, 25-50% volume reduction, and destruction of pathogens and weed destruction of pathogens and weed seeds due to heat of composting. seeds due to heat of composting.

• Simple, easy.• Natural biological process.• Recycling.• Bio-secure.• Environmentally sound.• Low odor.• Low fly production.

• Mechanical breakdown of large particles

• Increase surface area for microbes

• Feed on bacteria and fungi.

Microbial activity is related to availability of food source, surface area, moisture and oxygen availability.

Composting Principles

Cone Shaped Windrow

“Chimney effect”

Unimproved Surface

Active vs. Passive Composting

Actively Compost

Requires turning, moisture, oxygen, C:N

33

•Properly composting manure – Heats up to 145 degrees F•Can kill parasite eggs and weed seeds

• C:N ratio• Oxygen Content (Porosity)• Moisture Content• Temperature• pH• Particle Size

• Active composting occurs in the temperature range of 50oF to 160oF

• Pile temperature may increase above 140oF but this is too hot for most bacteria and decomposition will slow until temperature decreases again.

Remember, Compost pile heat is the direct result of microbial metabolism!!!

So…What is a C:N Ratio?• Supply of total carbon compared to total nitrogen in

compost pile.• If C:N is too high the compost process will slow.• If C:N is too low, more likely to lose Nitrogen as

ammonia gas or in leaching.• Ideal initial C:N mixture range is 20 – 30:1.• Very important!

Weeks of Composting

2 4 6

100

140

8

Tem

pera

ture

(F)

Curing Phase

Mesophilic

Thermophilic

Active Phase

• Need Oxygen for most efficient process.• 21% oxygen in air.• 5%-10% is optimal for compost process. <5%

process slows.• As pile heats more oxygen will be consumed

by microbes.

50-65% 100 %0%

Optimal conditions for microbes

Too Dry Too Wet

40-65% moisture range

0 147

Bacteria Bacteria (6.0 – 7.5)(6.0 – 7.5)

Fungi (5.5-8.0)Fungi (5.5-8.0)

• C:N Ratio - 20 to 30:1• % Moisture - 50-65%• Oxygen - 5-10%• pH - 5.5-8.2 (acceptable)• Particle size - 1/4 to 3 inches• Temperature -110 -160 o F

Mixed sizes are preferred.Wood shavings ideal.

Solid Manure Storage• Covered facilities• Tarp may provide cover with

less cost and more labor• Stack or stockpile in a well-

drained area for later hauling• Regulations may require

runoff control

Sample Manure Storage

Choosing a Manure Storage Facility

• Land application methods • Type of bedding• Hauling, distances, volume • Space and size requirements• Treatment• Common Sense!!

•Design system to fit your goals•Storage area?•Consult sizing guide•Consult NRCS•Add another bin

Two Bin Composter

Manure Compost Bin

51

Manure Management Building a Manure Composting System for a Small Horse Operation

Two bins are adequate for 2-5 horses. One bin can be composting while the other is being filled.

Economy Model

Size Matters

Manure Stacking Facility

• Allows for the accumulation of solids• Inexpensive method of separating liquids from

solids (Not in Horses)• Leaching should be controlled• Works only with solid manure waste• Good to have a vegetative filter area

Other Uses of Composted Horse Manure

Landscaping - Gardening

Riding Arena Footing

Compost- Use on Sustainable Trails as Footing

Mortality Compost Management

• Animal bedding• Waste feed• Manure• Straw• Wood shavings,

sawdust, woodchips• Others?

• Plenty of absorbent base

• 24” is ideal• Common to have 2

layers of mortality

For Large Animals

Turn Pile in 90 Days.Continue compost for 4-6 mos.

• Land apply after 90 more days• Six months total• Or use on new composting row

Land Application

• Bones from immature animals degrade quickly and can be land applied.

• Big bones from mature animals may need to be picked out.

Bone Disposal

Vegetative Buffer Strips• Inexpensive to install ?• Removes some solids from

liquids• Maintenance is not easy• Needs to be long and flat• Channel flow reduces

effectiveness

Odors

• Remember downwind neighbors• You might like the smell of manure but your neighbors will not

Factors Affecting Odor Release and Dispersion

3. Source concentration

2. Area

1. Wind speed

1. Temperature2. Wind speed3. Topography

Summary - Manure Management• Each farm should have a plan for managing manure spreading

and disposal.• Store manure in a dry, level, impermeable location free from

storm-water runoff.• Manage storm-water to prevent manure contamination of water

and eliminate runoff.• Actively compost manure and bedding• Control animal access to manure pile sites. • Visual – out of sight-out of mind

Questions????

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