LONE STAR HEALTHY STREAMS: Reducing Bacteria

with Best Management Practices for Livestock

Jennifer PetersonDepartment of Soil & Crop Sciences

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

January 16, 2013Bosque River Coalition

Background More than 50% of water quality impairments in

Texas are due to excess bacteria levels.

Sources of Bacteria

Texas Livestock Texas livestock industry is most important

agricultural industry in the state:• Value of livestock, poultry, and

associated product is estimated to be $15 billion.

• Texas ranks 1st in total number of cattle and calves (13% of total U.S. inventory).

Lone Star Healthy Streams

Protection of Texas waterways from bacterial contamination.

LSHS educates livestock producers on best management practices to reduce bacterial contamination in runoff.

HORSES FERAL HOGSDAIRY CATTLEBEEF CATTLE POULTRY

Resource Manuals

Resource Manuals 5 resource manuals including information on:

• Background• Water quality law/policy• Bacteria fate and transport• Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Description Bacteria removal efficiency Cost

Other Available Resources

Project website (http://lshs.tamu.edu)

Project factsheet/brochure

Research bibliography/database

Voice-over PowerPoint presentations

Online/interactive version of resource manuals

Best Management Practices

Top BMPs for each animal category were selected and prioritized.

BMPs organized by categories:• Grazing management• Runoff management• Riparian area protection & management• Manure management• Mortality management

Priority BMPs

BMP CATEGORY BEEF CATTLE GRAZING

DAIRY CATTLE CONFINED GRAZING

HORSES POULTRY FERAL HOGS

GRAZING MANAGEMENT

Prescribed grazing (528A) x Prescribed grazing (528A) Prescribed grazing (528A) x x

RUNOFF MANAGEMENT

Filter strips (NRCS Code 393) Filter strips (NRCS Code 393) Filter strips (NRCS Code 393) Filter strips (NRCS Code 393) Filter strips (NRCS Code 393) x x Field borders (NRCS Code 386) x Building location Field borders (NRCS Code 386) x x Grassed waterways

(NRCS Code 412) x Roof runoff structure (NRCS

Code 558) Grassed waterways (NRCS Code 412)

x

x Roof runoff structure (NRCS Code 558)

x Water harvesting catchment (NRCS Code 636)

Roof runoff structure (NRCS Code 558)

x

x Diversion (NRCS Code 362) x x x x RIPARIAN AREA PROTECTION & MANAGEMENT

Shade structures (NRCS Code 717)

x Shade structures (NRCS Code 717)

Shade structures (NRCS Code 717)

x x

Stream crossing (NRCS Code 578)

x Stream crossing (NRCS Code 578)

Watering facility (NRCS Code 614)

x x

Watering facility (NRCS Code 614)

x Watering facility (NRCS Code 614)

Fencing (NRCS Code 382) x x

Feed, salt, and/or mineral locations

x Feed, salt, and/or mineral locations

Access control (NRCS Code 472)

x x

Heavy use area protection (NRCS Code 561)

x Heavy use area protection (NRCS Code 561)

x x x

In-stream watering points x In-stream watering points x x x Fencing (NRCS Code 382) x Fencing (NRCS Code 382) x x x Access control (NRCS Code 472)

x Access control (NRCS Code 472)

x x x

MORTALITY MANAGEMENT

Proper carcass disposal Proper carcass disposal Proper carcass disposal Proper carcass disposal Proper carcass disposal Proper carcass disposal

MANURE MANAGEMENT

x Waste treatment lagoon (NRCS Code 359)

x Waste storage structure (NRCS Code 313)

Waste storage structure (NRCS Code 313)

x

x Waste utilization (NRCS Code 633)

x Waste utilization (NRCS Code 633)

Waste utilization (NRCS Code 633)

x

x Soil testing & nutrient management (NRCS Code 590)

x Soil testing & nutrient management (NRCS Code 590)

In-house pasteurization of litter (NRCS Code 629)

x

x Waste treatment (NRCS Code 629)

x Composting (NRCS Code 317) Soil testing & nutrient management (NRCS Code 590)

x

x Composting (NRCS Code 317) x x Composting (NRCS Code 317) x LETHAL TECHNIQUES (feral hogs only)

x x x x x Trapping Snares Hunting and Shooting

NONLETHAL TECHNIQUES (feral hogs)

x x x x x Fencing

TOTAL BMPs 11 11 11 14 10 5

• Primary BMP is prescribed grazing, designed to:

– Maintain adequate vegetative cover

– Reduce soil erosion

– Improve forage production

– Enhance water conservation

– Improve animal performance

– Enhance long-term sustainability of production systems

Grazing Management

• Reduced forage production.

• >50% aboveground biomass removed:

– Photosynthesis slowed

– Root development reduced

– Moisture and soil nutrients for plant production reduced.

Improper Grazing Management

• 200% reduction in E. coli levels when grazing intensity switched from heavy to moderate.

• 90% - 96% reduction in fecal coliform levels when grazing intensity switched from heavy to no grazing.

• 72% reduction in E. coli levels when prescribed grazing implemented with contour farming, grassed waterways, nutrient/pest management.

Grazing Systems

• BMPs help control water moving across the landscape:

– Filter strips

– Field borders

– Roof runoff structure

– Diversion

– Grassed waterway

Runoff Management

• An area of herbaceous vegetation established between a body of water and the surrounding land.– Designed to remove sediment, bacteria, organic material,

nutrients, and chemicals from runoff.

Filter Strips

Bacteria Removal with Filter Strips

Effectiveness of filter strips in reducing fecal coliform levels under varying conditions.

Fecal Coliform

Reduction

Slope Buffer Length

Runoff Source

Reference

94.8% – 99.9% 5% - 35% .1 – 2.1m Grazing cattle Tate et al. 2006

43% - 74% 9% 9m Poultry litter on no-till cropland

Coyne et al. 1995

64% - 87% 4% 9m Manure Fajardo et al. 2001

>99% 4% 1 - 25m Manure on pastureland

Sullivan et al. 2007

• Riparian areas are environmentally sensitive areas along streams and rivers that require special protection.

• Riparian protection BMPs alter amount of time livestock spend in riparian areas.

– Shade structure

– Watering facility

– Exclusionary fencing

– Access control

Riparian Area Management

– Stream crossing

– Feed, salt, mineral locations

– Heavy use area protection

– In-stream watering points

• Encourages livestock to obtain water away from the stream.

• Easy to implement.

• NRCS cost-share programs reduce costs.

• Consider solar-powered wells.

Alternative Water Source

Alternative Water Source

Bacteria Reduction Reference

E. coli

85% Byers et al. 2005

Fecal coliform

94% (when combined with other practices) Hagedorn et al. 1999

51% Sheffield et al. 1997

Fecal streptococci

77% Sheffield et al. 1997

• BMPs minimize pathogens through proper storage, handling, recycling, and disposal.

• A 1,000 pound lactating dairy cow producers 80 pounds of manure per day, or 12 to 14 tons of manure each year.

• BMPs include:– Waste treatment lagoon

– Waste utilization

– Soil testing/nutrient management

– Composting

Manure Management

• An impoundment made by building an embankment and/or excavating a pit to biologically treat waste.

• Most agricultural lagoons are anaerobic:

Waste Treatment Lagoon

– Treat waste without dissolved oxygen

– Anaerobic bacteria digest organic waste and convert it to carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide.

Waste Treatment Lagoon

Bacteria Reduction Reference

E. coli

97%-99% Meals and Braun 2006

Fecal coliform

44% (when combined with other practices) Inamdar et al. 2007

Total coliform Sheffield et al. 1997

99%+ Patni et al. 1985

Fecal streptococci

46% -76% Meals and Braun 2006

• Rendering

• Composting

• Incineration

• Sanitary landfills

• Burial

Mortality Management

• Benefits of mortality management include:

– Less pollution of groundwater and surface water.

– Reduced odors from improperly handled carcasses.

– Reduced damage to crops and forages.

– Decreased risk of diseases spreading to animals feeding on the carcass.

– Provide contingencies for normal and catastrophic mortality events.

Mortality Management

• Livestock can contribute bacteria to water bodies.

• Best management practices exist to help prevent bacterial contamination of water resources.

• Know your options and decide which practices to implement.

Conclusion

LONE STAR HEALTHY STREAMS: Reducing Bacteria with Best Management Practices for

Livestock

Jennifer PetersonDepartment of Soil & Crop Sciences

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

http://lshs.tamu.edu