Horse manure as fertilizer

[MikePA]

IF the guy is CHEAP the manure is probably good.

Reason being that cheap horse owners try to economize on bedding, which is mostly shavings. They pick out only the manure to toss out, which is exactly what you want. A high wood content will take forever to rot down, so you might find yourself spending even MORE on nitrogen.

I don't know too many horse owners, cheap or not, who pick the manure out and leave urine soaked wood chips in the stall.

 

[charlz]

I don't know too many horse owners, cheap or not, who pick the manure out and leave urine soaked wood chips in the stall.

And the urine is high in nitrogen which helps break them down. In the long run I think wood chips make the best soil.

I just found a neighbor down the way that runs a small stable. He will haul the manure/wood chip stuff in his dump trailer and deliver as much as I want for free I have two loads steaming away out back, just ran the 3pt tiller into a lot of it to help it along.

Weed seeds are definitely a potential problem in horse manure... not sure if I will try to put any of this down on the hay field or just the garden.

Oh, and the longer you let it breakdown the less nitrogen it has in it.... so it is a trade off.

 

[HappyCPE]

If you have access to a LOT of horse manure, here's a potential business plan waiting to happen:
AG Choice, LLC: The Natural Choice 973-786-5176
Advanced Composting System from Midwest Bio-Systems
I have used this guy's compost and it is great stuff for the veggies. This being NJ, however, it is a little pricey...

 

[MikeD74T]

If you have an acre or two to spare consider running a composting operation as a side line. You can get leaves & grass from landscapers & charge a disposal fee. Most large stables also pay to get rid of manure. Mixing & managing compost piles is a batch type operation which might work well with your schedule. My BIL does this & sells all the compost back to the landscapers in bulk, by the yard. Could do even better if he bagged & sold retail. Runs his operation with a Bobcat & single axle dumptruck. His biggest drawback, IMO, is his sales are seasonal spring & fall, while production is year round. This takes up more room as he stockpiles leaves & clippings to match his manure supply which is more steady. MikeD74T

 

[firefighter9208]

Not a bad idea. I don't know how the misses would feel about another pile of steaming poop. I already mulch the goat poop and shavings/hay. Just looking for some cheap fertilizer to spread on the pasture. Of course, there no longer is such a thing.

Chris

 

[MasseyWV]

If you have an acre or two to spare consider running a composting operation as a side line. You can get leaves & grass from landscapers & charge a disposal fee. Most large stables also pay to get rid of manure. Mixing & managing compost piles is a batch type operation which might work well with your schedule. My BIL does this & sells all the compost back to the landscapers in bulk, by the yard. Could do even better if he bagged & sold retail. Runs his operation with a Bobcat & single axle dumptruck. His biggest drawback, IMO, is his sales are seasonal spring & fall, while production is year round. This takes up more room as he stockpiles leaves & clippings to match his manure supply which is more steady. MikeD74T

I am planning on doing something similar but only to feed my gardening needs for now. If all goes well, I may have a go at selling compost.

 

[MasseyWV]

Be sure to compost it for a year. Get it good and hot. Or else, you'll be spreading every weed seed in the county right on your pasture.

I agree and would add that you can help it compost faster by turning it at least once or twice a month.

Additionally, I would only consider buying manure as a last resort (unless the fee is to haul it). Calling stables in your area will probably get you all the free horse manure you want.

For example: I have a local stable who has so much manure piled up, that I am able to get it already composted (1-2 years old) for free if I load and haul it myself.

 

[Western]

Just my 2 cents,
If I was to use horse manure and had other livestock, I would only use composted or aged manure, reason in my mind is most horses are dewormed with various dewormers, I rotate mine, but have been told if you use fresh manure there may be some dewormer residue and or various worm larvea/eggs that can live up to 2 years in the soil. That is why I would compost it and let it age, if you have livestock that could "aquire" a problem associated with horse dewormers and or worm/ bot larvea.

Most dewormers aren't good for aquatic life ( water shed), and I would have a problem putting fresh manure in my garden for my family, at least from well maintained horses on a dewormer program. Aged manure! sign me up

Just a thought

 

[4720 OWNER]

Manure spreader, grade 2. Only spread it once with the wind to the back.

Have also just read that there are specific bacteria growing in the soil where animals have been dosed with anti biotics and left their 'deposits'. They just gobble it up for food so any anti biotic would not work on them. If they cross to humans, they would be unstoppable. Scary stuff.