Cattle manure -fertilizer output- challenge for the week.

Obviously, he will generate a lot more manure, but it will be self-delivered on the pasture & fields with grazing.

--->Paul

Now, any nutrients brought into the farm in the form of feed are additions to the system. Thats how dairy cows, chickens, etc add to the total fertility on a farm, so much off farm feed going into them. Most of the nutrients in whatever the animals eat except energy and protein do go out the back end. Any feed that comes in adds its nutirents to the system. If he is buying hay and corn then that does add fertilizer value but it depends a LOT on what they are eating. If the cows are being fed purchased grain then there is a large contribution of phosphorous to the farm. If they are eating alfalfa there is a lot of potassium and calcium going out the back side of the cow. Grass hay, less calcium and potassium but still its a net gain.

With all that said there is an organic nitrogen contribution to the system. But that comes from excess protein that is metabolized by the animal. It still came from origional soil nitrogen in someones soil. My pastures now test high in P and K, and rarely need nitrogen due to the amount of manure they get. Particularly the field where I feed. But its not 'new'. Its simply plant nutrients that come out of another field where the hay is grown. Those nutrients either have to go back as manure or in my case come in a truck from the co-op as fertilizer and synthetic nitrogen.

Here's what I know. We keep our 45-50 stock cows confined in a yard from last weekend of Oct. to the 3rd weekend of May. I then use the crawler and push it all into a few piles and let it sit until fall. Then we spread it on the hay fields after the cows have grazed them off. (usually don't take a 2nd crop of hay)This generates enough manure to cover about 20-25 acres.

You can also spread it in the spring if you choose, but often the hay fields are too soft and I don't want them all rutted up when it comes time to hay them.

(Glad to hear your gettin' your cows!)

Having had the local Fertilizer supplier out to the place yesterday to take a soil sample to determine my annual requirements, before long that is all that we will be able to afford.

Mark

Mark

Used to spread 10 to 20 acres out of 100 head of dairy cows that were in the lot year around.

Your "chicken poop" is way hotter than manure from cattle and you have to "spread it thin" to keep from burning the crop.

Allan

Mark