Why Care About Pasture Management ?

Traditionally, 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 evenly on cropland).

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, urban horse owners don’t usually have large

enough pastures for rotational grazing.

Installing a rotational grazing system -- dividing a pasture area into smaller fields by gated fences -- provides more pasture for the horses. While one field is recovering, the animals can graze in another. This system ensures that overgrazing does not occur. When done properly, the resting period of the fields will allow vegetation to recover with renewed vigor, and the horses will be guaranteed fresh grass for a longer period during the growing season. Divide pastures in such a way that animals can have access to clean water, shade, and salt at any time.

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.

maintenance of horses in a confinement setting requires intensive labor.

Horses housed in stalls and sheds require soft absorbent bedding. The most common

bedding source in Virginia straw. in  Some other sources are shredded newsprint, peanut

shells, peat moss,  etc. Remove manure and soiled bedding on a regular

basis and handle appropriately to prevent fly infestation and disease transmission.

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 has many benefits:

• It reduces environmental and health risks by controlling parasite re-infestation of horses, eliminating a potential breeding site for flies, and reducing the amount of raw manure-polluted runoff that reaches surface and ground water.

• It provides an efficient manure handling process by reducing the volume and odor potential.

• It enhances soil tilth and fertility for the yard, garden, pasture, or even a "horse-less" neighbor.

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 frontend

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.

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.