Manure as Fertilizer?

Question

Hi,
I had a question about using cow manure as fertilizer. I have seen some slightly conflicting rules as to the use of manure. Specifically, does the manure need to be composted for the typical 2-3 months before being used?

Some sources have referred to using "fresh" manure. I thought there was a requirement for farms to have livestock separated from any food crop because of the worry about getting food contamination from the animals. Can you clarify?

Thanks

Answer 1

I used to be pretty good at slinging horse sh*t on my garden. You just put it on in late fall, til it under and plant in the spring.That way you can use fresh when applying.It wont be too hot since you have all winter for it to break down and enrich the soil. The horse sh*t I used also had small wood chips and sawdust in it. That helps the soil stay broken up, especially if your soil tends to clay.

Answer 2

To be on the safe side use the well-rotted cow manure if your intention is for use in a garden.

That way the e-coli and other nasty bits will have lived their life and died or moved on to fresher 'food'.

The suggestion to put fresh manure in the fall and let it steep until spring is really good... the garden loves that. The bacteria that harms won't last through the cold of winter....plus there is your 2-3 months of composting too.

When using it around food crops use the manure that looks like dirt.
I think that's the safest way.

Answer 3

If one chooses to use manure for fertilizer, it would be an excellent idea to use it when it has dried up. The fresh manure is too hot, literally and figuartively, to be used as fertilizer. It will burn.

If one chooses to use manure, one may want to burn it, literally, heat with fire to kill any diseases.
Better yet, mix in with a compost pile.

Answer 4

convinced. this is tremendous stuff. compared to cow manure, the celulose is way less damaged down so it dissolves more beneficial, although this is basically nice as fertilizer. (I advise, in case you fill a hollow with horse manure and then plant something in it, after a year it is going to sink down plenty and also you'll ought to operate more beneficial. that would not ensue as a lot with cow manure)

Answer 5

From memory planting shouldn't be done for 2 weeks after being fertilised, regardless of whether you use manure or ordinary compost.
You shouldn't use it anywhere near crops that are ready to harvest.

Answer 6

read the directions for the kind of manure your using. ive never heard that it needs to be composted

Answer 7

sure, you can use fresh manure, but dont mix it with any food plants or else you can get really bad diseases (ecoli?) any sure we do it all the time and our plants grow well

Answer 8

I live in cattle country and can tell you they do both. I think they spread on the fresh stuff before planting and tilling.