Spreader Composted Manure: spread it?

[spox]

Hi all,

I have a small acreage horse farm with 2 horses. Its amazing how much "material" builds up with these two. I have been piling it and am about to have it hauled away, but was was wondering if I should spread it on the pastures instead. If i wanted to do that, what could i use to spread it?

Thanks
Stephen

 

[Lloyd_E]

I am dealing with the same situation. I pile it in the backs woods and let it compost down. I use it around the gardens and over trails. Next year I will be advertising it for sale - will load pick-up truck or trailer, you haul away.

They say the average horse produces 9 tons a year x2 + 18-20 tons!!!

In order to spread it you need a manure spreader. They do make small ATV manure spreader or you could do it with a FEL and landscape rake - time consuming.

Lloyd

 

[davkir]

I get together with two of my neighbors and we spread all of our manure in nearby fields twice a year. Timing in the spring is tight (after mud and before planting).
Plus we can use two tractors or a tractor and pick-up to make it go pretty fast.

 

[Alt5600]

It's a good idea to compost completely prior to spreading. Spreading fresh manure is discouraged because you may transfer living parasites from the manure right back into the ground. Composting completely should kill the parasites ... due to the heat produced in proper composting. If you do spread fresh manure, spread it thin and keep your horses out of that pasture/paddock for a long time.

 

[MarkLeininger]

I also have 2 horses, 6 acres. I bought a small manure spreader for $350, works great. Had to do a bit of work on it, it's old but still serviceable. Composting is not such a simple process, you need a fairly large supply of sawdust or some other type of material, keep the pile covered, add the right amount of moisture, have to turn it, etc. I just keep piling it up until it's good and hot in July or August, then spread it and keep the horses off until it's baked a few weeks and is good and dry. Bigger problem is weed seeds in the manure. I've tried covering manure piles with black plastic tarps, they get so hot you can't even think of putting your hand in there. I'm hoping that does something to kill the weed seeds, but I'm not sure how hot it really has to get to kill them. I've always wondered if the parasite issue wasn't a bigger problem due to all the other critters pooping in the pasture, like deer, racoons, coyote, etc. My horses get treated for parasites, why should they have anything in their intestines to pass on?

 

[Rara Avis]

Hi all,

I have a small acreage horse farm with 2 horses. Its amazing how much "material" builds up with these two. I have been piling it and am about to have it hauled away, but was was wondering if I should spread it on the pastures instead. If i wanted to do that, what could i use to spread it?

Thanks
Stephen

Sell it to gardeners...

 

[Alt5600]

Definitely, compost/spread to take care of your own pastures/paddocks and sell or give-away the rest. Horse manure is a great fertilizer for gardeners. Flowers love that stuff. You might consider talking with your county extension-agent about what is best for your pasture soil. I found these government-links in another thread that may be helpful in determining the type of soil that you have and the best uses:
http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/
Web Soil Survey - Home

Personally, I intend to have three large compost-bins ... one that I'm filling ... one that is being turned and baking ... and one that I'm spreading ... and rotate them all every four months throughout the year. My neighbors have excessive poop build-up and usually have it hauled-off. I might just combine everyone's and have spreading-parties to help everyone's pastures. "Spread the love", I say ... or was it "spread the poop".

Regarding spreaders ...
There are small spreaders: Newer Spreader - The Manure Spreader that's perfect for smaller horse farms!
There are big spreaders: Meyer's Equipment Manufacturing Corporation Manure Spreaders
This site has an interesting buying guide.

 

[charlz]

I get it from a local stable by the dump trailer load... they are happy just to get rid of it so they deliver. I windrow it, make sure it is good and wet (1.5" hose) and then back my 3 point tiller in from all sides and restack. I do this at least 3 times over a couple of months and then give it a final till/wetting and move it to a 'cure' bin.

This has a lot of sawdust bedding in it, old hay, straw etc. It cooks down to probably 1/2 to 1/3 its original size. I use it in my gardens, wifes flower beds etc. Lots of wood chips etc left at the end.. which works for mulching.

Around here most people try to give it away so they don't have to pay to get rid of it. Spreading it pretty much requires a manure spreader... alternatives are very time consuming. Even spreading it in my gardens is a bit of a chore to get it somewhat evenly distributed for tilling in (not using a manure spreader).

 

[PGibber]

As ALT5600 noted (i.e. parasites), my biggest concern has been killing out the parasites before spreading. I have 13 minature horses, and 13 acres in TX, and do agree the stuff piles up! I would like to set up a compost area but in the interim I've been scooping and dumping the poop in 50 gal barrell drums. Given our TX heat, I am told that the heat kills out the parasites, the only problem is I can go only about 7-10 days before dumping all 3 barrells. Not sure if that is enough time to kill everything out, but that is what I am doing currently.

I am spreading the manure in my pasture at this point, and once this year's garden dies out, I'll start dumping 100% of the poop in my garden for next season.

Manure spreader is the way to go and that is on my wish list to buy next. Given you have 2 horses perhaps using the barrells is an interim option. When dumping, I simply turn the barrell on its side and roll it along to empty and spread it evenly versus just dumping a big pile of it.

 

[Sniggle]

I too have 2 horses on my small property (3 acre pasture, 1 acre paddock, 2 acre home site).

I bought a used 25 bushel manure spreader (H & S, $1000) that I pull with my lawn tractor. With my tractor I can fill the bed with 2 full buckets. I then spread it around my house, as the soil is bad (clay) and I figure that after 5 or so years it will enrich the soil.

I end up cleaning the paddock once every 2 to 3 weeks, and remove an average of 5 full loads (125 bushels, I guess).

It works great. I was borrowing the neighbors newer spreader, but the tractor bucket could not deposit easily in the newer spreader.

I plan to chain drag my pasture (it is new, and will not see horses until next spring).