Manure Management and Storage#
Definition
Preventing livestock from damaging natural waterways and eroding soil by feeding them in a central location, and using their waste for other purposes.
How it works: If livestock are not well managed, their hooves and grazing can damage vegetation, disturb the soil, and create erosion problems. All of these things make it more likely that water runs off of the pasture carrying sediment and pollutants like phosphorus and nitrogen. When livestock grazing damages the soil, it also makes water run off the landscape faster. All of these things create water quality problems, and also make flooding worse in rivers downstream. Removing cows from the landscape and concentrating their feeding in a small area can limit the impacts of the landscape and on the soil. However, this is not really a conservation practice, because the resulting animal waste must be carefully managed by the farmer. Inadequate storage can lead to accidental release of animal waste into waterways and the environment.
However, there are extensive resources for best practices in animal waste management. If this is the route you want to go, you will need to make something called a comprehensive nutrient management plan, and you’ll probably want to work with your county conservation officer to do the best job you can.
We can help!
Planning out how you are going to manage feeding your herd requires you to sit down and really plan it out in advance. It can be a big task just to take that first step. Your soil and water conservation office is here to help. Contact us to get yourself over that first hurdle!
608-637-5480