cow manure for fertlizing

[TTPRODR]

i read in a news clip someone saying dry cow manure in a spreader is the best for fertilizing in the green world.any suggestions or opinions?
i have a cow farm not too far from my home that you get to pick as much as u want for free.

[ED'S LAWNCARE]

I don't know too much about it but I go get a couple of dump trailer loads for my veg garden. Last year I had tomatoes that reached 2lbs and a watermelon that weighed 53lbs, just about all my cantaloupes avg 8-9 lbs. It was a good crop. I was going to go today to get some but it is pouring.

[Duffster]

I grew up on a dairy farm so I know a little about chit:laugh:

I am not sure how you would spread it on a lawn without drying and shredding or composting it

[Pistol]

Oh that's a bunch of crap! LOL

Does it not need to be composted? :confused:

[Duffster]

Oh that's a bunch of crap! LOL

Does it not need to be composted? :confused:

No

But your homeowner would probably prefer it to be:laugh:

[cgaengineer]

Horse manure for some reason is supposed to have higher N content according to my composting book an around here you can get all the aged horse manure you want for free. I was thinking about getting a few truck loads. I am thinking aged means dry and well broken down.

[Smallaxe]

People around here just make tea out of it raw. Then do a drench for lawns or gardens.

[cudaclan]

Should there be a concern for weed seeds germinating? Cows have four stomach chambers to "re-digest" and brake-down intake. With that much "composting", I would assume it is a better product. Horse do not share the same anatomy. This does not take in account the hormones and "fortified" feed that they are fed. And to think milorginite is a beneficial product. Well composted (dry) and aged manure, definitely.

[Pistol]

The saga continues:
Chapter 1 - Leaf compost - $19/cu yd - I think it was in a compost pile for 10 days and no screening - a mess to say the least

Chapter 2 - Good looking certified compost from a company called McGill - bought a cu. yd. through a reseller for $25 (McGill's min. is 50 cu. yds). Good product - high price - $100+ to deliver up to 40 cu. yds

Chapter 3 - Wallace Farm compost http://www.wallacefarmproducts.com/home
$17/cu yd / web site says lots of diff. inputs, but the analysis sheet says manure compost. I'm trying to find out exactally what is in it (or does it really matter?) I have attached a copy of the analysis - how does it look? They are about an hour away- getting delivery costs from them.

Pistol

[Pistol]

The previous post was supposed to be a new thread - sorry all.

[Smallaxe]

Should there be a concern for weed seeds germinating? Cows have four stomach chambers to "re-digest" and brake-down intake. With that much "composting", I would assume it is a better product. Horse do not share the same anatomy. This does not take in account the hormones and "fortified" feed that they are fed. And to think milorginite is a beneficial product. Well composted (dry) and aged manure, definitely.

Back in the old days farmers would run pigs behind the cows to finish getting the undigestted food value out of what the cows didn't use. So I would not count on weed seeds being killed, by passing through the digestive tract. Of course very few cows are allowed the luxury to graze any more.
They may never have a chance to eat a live seed. Weed or otherwise. Compostted is really the only safe way to go for lawns, other than your own.

[cgaengineer]

Should there be a concern for weed seeds germinating? Cows have four stomach chambers to "re-digest" and brake-down intake. With that much "composting", I would assume it is a better product. Horse do not share the same anatomy. This does not take in account the hormones and "fortified" feed that they are fed. And to think milorginite is a beneficial product. Well composted (dry) and aged manure, definitely.

Yes horse manure can contain more weed seeds, but if you you set it from the right place and they are grain fed I would think this wouldn't be too big of a problem.

[TMGL&L]

I heard somewhere that you are not to use fresh cow chit right away on turf or really anything...It is to be dried and aged first. Maybe too high in N? I'm not sure... Definitely do your research.

[treegal1]

lay down the shite and do the soil good.........

as we will all turn to compost when we die...................

[Smallaxe]

lay down the shite and do the soil good.........

as we will all turn to compost when we die...................

:laugh: instead of a chalkline of the body it will be a 'green' silhouette. :laugh:

New slogan. "Fatboy - Does a soil good." :laugh:

[muddstopper]

The biggest problem with cow poop, aged or otherwise is harmful bacteria. In this day and age of e-bola and such, using fully composted manure is the only safe way to go.

Cow poop will raise K levels in your soil, even more than what is actually contained in the poop. The addition of the poop will stimulate the biology and help release k in the soil that is otherwise unavailable. Several years of repeated poop use will create an imbalance of nutrients in the soil and result in a soil that is less fertile because of to much K. If you are going to use the cow poop on a continual basis, it is best to soil test every couple of years to monitor the nutrient levels. You might find that you will have to stop using the cow poo and look at other sources of manure to balance out your nutrient levels.

Feed lot cow poop will contain different nutrient levels than pastured cowpoop. This is due to the grain that is fed to the cattle. Feed lot manures tend to have higher P levels than pasture manures and is somewhat similar to horse poop in this reguard. You can also switch to chicken poo from layer chickens to raise calcium levels as well as lower your ph levels. Broiler manures again come from grain fed chickens without calcium supplements and do not raise, (generalized statement), ph levels or supply adequate calcium.

At any rate, the point of my post is that you can test your manures for proper nutrient levels and select the manures based on the nutrient needs of the soil, you dont have to stick to just one type of manure. Composted manures are safer than raw or dried manures, and the addition of manures will generaly raise nutrient levels more than the total amount of nutrient applied with the manures due to the stimulation of the soil microbes.

[TMGL&L]

:laugh::laugh: I love the excessive use of the poop word in such an educated-sounding post.

[Smallaxe]

When the manager of the nursery asked the lady if she was pleased with her bags of compost, she responded "Yes, but your man always uses the word, 'MANURE'. You really should get him to use the word 'FERTILIZER'".
"Yes, ma'am", he said, "but it took me 10 years to get him to use the word 'MANURE'".

[ICT Bill]

Listen to Mudd he knows his POOP :)

Please compost the manure first, the heat involved in the process will kill off most of the pathogens and weed seeds. I saw one site where they used a bio-solid (human poop) that had not been composted properly, there must have been 10,000 tomato plants on the guys yard, hard lesson to learn.

Sometimes the poop will be too hot and will burn the turf. Last spring one guy on here posted pictures of some turf he applied horse poop to and it burn it just like if you spilled a high N fert on it. he was able to water his way out of it but it did not look very good to his reputation to the customer and neighbors

[Chinch Bug]

Have you tried locating pelletized or granulated chicken fertilizer? Often comes pasteurized. Good stuff.

[TMGL&L]

What about the product Earth mate? I heard of this stuff called earth made or earth mate or something. Its supposed to be pastuerized human poop or something. Apparently its like awesome stuff and free sometimes at town waste disposal plants. I suppose it bagged sometimes and sold too.

I'm not sure if anyone has heard of this.

[Smallaxe]

What about the product Earth mate? I heard of this stuff called earth made or earth mate or something. Its supposed to be pastuerized human poop or something. Apparently its like awesome stuff and free sometimes at town waste disposal plants. I suppose it bagged sometimes and sold too.

I'm not sure if anyone has heard of this.

Here in Wisco , we call it Milorganite.

[TMGL&L]

They are probably one and the same. I watched the video they offered online. Maybe I will start a thread or something about it later on. Thanks.

[Chinch Bug]

I'm not a big fan of human waste even though it's heated. If you think about it, everything that goes down the toilet can go into those products. Think about all the estrogen, for example, and not to mention drugs of all kinds,etc. Sorry, but I would rather stay with animal waste.

[Smallaxe]

I'm not a big fan of human waste even though it's heated. If you think about it, everything that goes down the toilet can go into those products. Think about all the estrogen, for example, and not to mention drugs of all kinds,etc. Sorry, but I would rather stay with animal waste.

Detox - takes place long b4 it is 'heated'... My main concern is not what they put in the bag, rather what do they do with the 'cleaning' water.!?!?!

Milorganite has been cool since its inception - except for the heavy metal thing. That was cleared up in '93. So from the early part of the last century - Milorganite has set the standard for others to follow. It is probably safer than your local micro-brewery beer. Or your salmonella peanut butter, your e-coli lettuce and spinach, etc. etc.

Besides - do you know what they are doing to the animals? Estrogen is nothing compared to the synthetic hormones and high energy feeds and the medicines necesary, to keep them animals alive long enough to make eggs, milk and meat...
Dairy cows now have an active life of less than 5 years. Chickens can't stand up - let alone walk... Where are they better poop producers than us once we clean out the toxins??

[TMGL&L]

I hear it does wonders for your annuals.

...The human estrogen and drugs that is...

[Smallaxe]

If you've ever had your annuals estrogened and drugged - you would know what he means... :laugh:

[cgaengineer]

Detox - takes place long b4 it is 'heated'... My main concern is not what they put in the bag, rather what do they do with the 'cleaning' water.!?!?!



They simply retreat the cleaning water.

[Chinch Bug]

You guys need to read this from a leading university in the SEC.

"The poultry industry in the U.S. does not use any growth hormone or any other hormone in producing meat or eggs. It has been illegal to use hormones of any kind in the production of poultry products for almost 50 years. Some other animal industries may still use hormone implants but it is not done with any commercial poultry. From the industry's viewpoint, it is expensive and unnecessary because the present care and management is so good that birds grow equally well without feeding or using hormone implants."

[muddstopper]

You guys need to read this from a leading university in the SEC.

"The poultry industry in the U.S. does not use any growth hormone or any other hormone in producing meat or eggs. It has been illegal to use hormones of any kind in the production of poultry products for almost 50 years. Some other animal industries may still use hormone implants but it is not done with any commercial poultry. From the industry's viewpoint, it is expensive and unnecessary because the present care and management is so good that birds grow equally well without feeding or using hormone implants."

Yes, but they do use geneticly modified feed stock. One must face the fact, in the old days, animals ranged free and pooped wherever and whenever they pleased. Humans didnt use toliets and mostly went in the woods. Some dug a hole. All plant residues went back on the soil. In this day and age, everything that is grown is consumed and then passes thru a septic system or treatment plant and nothing is placed back on top of the soil. Is it any wonder that the humis levels of our soil are declineing. We take so much off our soil that it is never fully replaced, even with the use of chemical fertilizers. Manures do a soil good.

[muddstopper]

Listen to Mudd he knows his POOP :)




Jack Schitt is the only son of Awe Schitt.

Awe Schitt, the fertilizer magnate, married Miss O. Needeep They had one son, Jack.

In turn, Jack Schitt married Noe Schitt. The deeply religious couple produced six children: Holie Schitt, Giva Schitt, Fulla Schitt, Bull Schitt, and the twins Deap Schitt and Dip Schitt.

Against her parents' objections, Deap Schitt married her cousin Dumb Schitt, a high school dropout. After being married 15 years, Jack and Noe Schitt divorced.

Noe Schitt later married Ted Sherlock, and, because her kids were living with them, she wanted to keep her previous name. She was then known as Noe Schitt Sherlock.

Meanwhile, Dip Schitt married Loda Schitt, and they produced a son with a rather nervous disposition named Chick N. Schitt.

Two of the other six children, Fulla Schitt and Giva Schitt, were inseparable throughout childhood and subsequently married the Happens brothers in a dual ceremony.

The wedding announcement in the newspaper announced the Schitt-Happens nuptials.

The Schitt-Happens children were Dawg, Byrd, and Hoarse. Bull Schitt, the prodigal son, left home to tour the world. He recently returned from Italy with his new Italian bride, Pisa Schitt.

Now when someone says, "You don't know Jack Schitt," you can correct them.

[muddstopper]

Jack Schitt is a famous singer, female impersonator and topiarist from Milwaukee. He comes from a long line of Schitts, and is famous for his innovative designs; indeed, the name of Schitt has long been synonymous with his high-quality work.
Here is a picture of him made in 1967

[Chinch Bug]

The point about soil organic matter levels is true. I am not sure about what is meant by "genetically modified feed stock". I eat hybrid corn and beans all the time. We all do. However, if we are talking about organic lawn care, then the point I am making is that the most available organic animal waste that comes in a consistent, guaranteed analysis, pathogen free and easily spread are the poultry products that can be purchased wholesale or retail.

[TMGL&L]

question...

So I have a small compost pile next to a farm... and I was thinking.

Say I hop that fence and scoop up a few piles of that steaming fresh horse and/or cow poo and toss it in my new pile...

That will enhance the analysis and microbial action right? I am assuming YES. But I don't really know what they are fed or if there could possibly be anything wrong with this... I am assuming the farmer is trying to get rid of it....

[muddstopper]

I am trying to think How I want to say this. Chicken manures from poultry houses should have a pretty consistant nutrient analysis as long as you are not compareing layer manures to broiler manures. I think the same would hold true for cattle from a dairy barn, but not if compared to feedlot steers. You also wouldnt be able to compare chicken manures to cow manure, or either to hog manures. The consistancey should be there as long as you are compareing layer to layer, broiler to broiler, dairy to dairy, ect.

It does seem that a lot more is being done with chicken poop than with the other manures. Must be because of the commercials saying to eat more chikken.

[TMGL&L]

I think I am going to buy a book about composting this weekend. Maybe I could learn more chit about chit composting and general composting altogether.

Anyone have any recommendations maybe? :)

[muddstopper]

question...

So I have a small compost pile next to a farm... and I was thinking.

Say I hop that fence and scoop up a few piles of that steaming fresh horse and/or cow poo and toss it in my new pile...

That will enhance the analysis and microbial action right? I am assuming YES. But I don't really know what they are fed or if there could possibly be anything wrong with this... I am assuming the farmer is trying to get rid of it....

First, just ask the farmer if you can have it. If hes trying to get rid of it, you shouldnt have any problem getting all you want.

As for anything being wrong with it, composting has a way of destroying harmful organisms and tying up heavy metals. If you compost it right you shouldnt have any problems. The fresh manures will provide the N for better C:N ratios and the microbes should get really active. Straw makes a good brown for your piles, or you can mix leaves. clippings, or even small chips of wood.

[1.2.3. green]

Rabbit manure = no burning , highest k , no smell

[cgaengineer]

I think I am going to buy a book about composting this weekend. Maybe I could learn more chit about chit composting and general composting altogether.

Anyone have any recommendations maybe? :)

Yes, get the Rodale book on composting.

http://www.rodalestore.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10002&storeId=10051&productId=12697&langId=-1&nav_wt=search

[Prolawnservice]

I think I am going to buy a book about composting this weekend. Maybe I could learn more chit about chit composting and general composting altogether.

Anyone have any recommendations maybe? :)

Malcom Beck the Secret Life of Compost

[TMGL&L]

what makes this book 70 bucks? I'm sure its good but I looked inside at amazon.com and it looks like its like 150 pages. A little pricey for me right now.

[TMGL&L]

The Rodale Book of Composting looks a little more up my ally. I'll check it out thx.

[TMGL&L]

another triple post... I gotta stop doing that...

Btw, because I jacked this thread, Bill started a new one here about books to read. To talk about that stuff please go there rather than continue my side/off topic blabbering in this thread. http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=269331

[cgaengineer]

The Rodale Book of Composting looks a little more up my ally. I'll check it out thx.

That Rodale book is a good one for people starting out...plenty to read. Barnes and Noble should have it in stock at your local store.

Dont worry about the triple posts...I do it all the time.

[TTPRODR]

I was at home depot today and found a 50lb bag of composted cow manure for$4.97
i ask few people there about using that as a fertilizer they all said is the best,I'll give a try!

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

You'll have to watch your salinity levels. If enough cow poo is applied over time, it can reach phytotoxic levels.

[TTPRODR]

I was at home depot today and found a 50lb bag of composted cow manure for$4.97
i ask few people there about using that as a fertilizer they all said is the best,I'll give a try!

by the way this is the $hit I bought today

http://www.blackkow.com/_html/benefits.htm

[bicmudpuppy]

I was at home depot today and found a 50lb bag of composted cow manure for$4.97
i ask few people there about using that as a fertilizer they all said is the best,I'll give a try!

by the way this is the $hit I bought today

http://www.blackkow.com/_html/benefits.htm

Sometimes it IS about convenience. Manure is manure within certain parameters. As has been mentioned countless times here(just recently even :) ), some have slightly different content than others, but if the price is right for the person paying the bill, then the price is right. I stopped by a site Friday as a favor. Two spots browning out in the yard. Sprinkler system has been "tweaked" to the point that both spots get less water than the rest, but the soil is typical NM desert sand. Composted manure or compost was my recommendation with some seed t fill in the bad areas. We have a local source for some decent compost, but the first question was "what about the bagged stuff over at ******. I told him what ever worked best for him, but some good black organic material about 1/4" thick and rake some seed into it would do wonders. I also made some recommendations about UN "tweaking" said sprinkler system with a few new "tweaks" to help. Best part about being in the desert is that when you make suggestions to reduce water, people listen better than anywhere else I've ever been.