Old horse manure

[Lofty1984]

Horsey people are terrible as already been stated but I can put a fair few farms in the same category

 

[Nearly]

I know a farmer that doesn't seem to own a pen-knife.

 

[roscoe erf]

I know a farmer that doesn't seem to own a pen-knife.

i'm not allowed sharp objects

 

[Dry Rot]

Harrow the fields to spread the muck, rest the fields, and move the horses onto fresh ground. Saves money all round and the sunlight/alternate drying/frost kills the worm eggs.

 

[Henarar]

Harrow the fields to spread the muck, rest the fields, and move the horses onto fresh ground. Saves money all round and the sunlight/alternate drying/frost kills the worm eggs.

Back in the days when they used horses for everything I wouldn't have thought they spent their days picking up sh1t so no need for it now

 

[pgilliat]

Another thing to be careful of with horse muck is the potential of damage from the likes of forefront herbicide residue. I have seen the damage this can cause.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

surely picking up the muck is terrible for dung beetles too?

 

[glasshouse]

surely picking up the muck is terrible for dung beetles too?

Why do the pick up horseshit,?
Is it ocd sickness?

 

[tr250]

I would have it in a heartbeat if it was free from the rubbish, in fact even with a little bit of rubbish I would.
Lets not pretend any farmers dung heap does not have its fair share of bale twine, mastitis tubes and worse.

Ours doesn’t either all we generally get is plenty of ear tags but that’s out of our control short of breaking the law and not putting them in

 

[Forkdriver]

Why do the pick up horseshit,?
Is it ocd sickness?

Too many horses on a small area and no cattle and sheep to tidy up the rough grass leads to areas that are almost pure droppings.
Our horses muck all gets spread and no strings included. A properly made heap will heat up and kill any weed seeds. A loose unmade heap never rots down.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

just spread some and the amount of string/plastic/old horse rugs/clothes/brushes (and a bread knife!) is unbelievable

 

[Bogweevil]

This is a random one.
The previous owners of our land used to keep horses.
Instead of having the muck removed they decided to pile it up amongst the trees down one side.
I’ve been looking to get this out for some time but a lot of the farmers are reluctant to take it away.
Not sure if this is access to remove or they just don’t want it.
The reason they might not want it is there is a lot and it’s been there a long time.
From the amount of muck for the amount of horses I’d say at least 10 years worth.
my question is would it be safe to throw over my fields and use it as a fertiliser or is it going to cause some problems. I want to cut the fields for hay eventually.
At the moment the only thing that grows in the muck now is nettles.
Thanks

Sell it to gardeners, £1 per 50L bag (they bring the bags or you can sell them one for £1) if they fill it, or £3 for ones you fill.

Double prices if you live in the south east.

 

[Kidds]

surely picking up the muck is terrible for dung beetles too?

Not if there is wormer in it

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Out of curiosity does anyone know the approx nutrients in horse manure vs cattle manure? Lot of variables I know but horse dung always seems so coarse.

Good question.

I was told, " You get out what you put in".

Cattle are generally fed a good diet to make them milk/grow or get fat.
Most horses are on a very controlled diet so that they don't eat any much more than they need.
Therefore, my understanding is that horse manure is generally very low in nutrients but can be a good soil conditioner if composted well but will also depend on the bedding used. Wood shavings could lock up nutrients in the soil.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Good question.

I was told, " You get out what you put in".

Cattle are generally fed a good diet to make them milk/grow or get fat.
Most horses are on a very controlled diet so that they don't eat any much more than they need.
Therefore, my understanding is that horse manure is generally very low in nutrients but can be a good soil conditioner if composted well but will also depend on the bedding used. Wood shavings could lock up nutrients in the soil.

I wonder if the wood shavings would be good for fungal networks, which I believe a lot of our agricultural soils are poor in, with too much bacterial domination?

 

[Foxcover]

Be easier and cheaper to spray the heap with Roundup first.

What about all the years worth of seeds in the pile? Can’t spray them out till they’ve germinated.

 

[milkloss]

What about all the years worth of seeds in the pile? Can’t spray them out till they’ve germinated.

A few decent sized mats of live nettle roots will make a mess if spread over a field and they grow. Never really had a problem with nettle growing from seed on an already established pasture

 

[robs1]

What about all the years worth of seeds in the pile? Can’t spray them out till they’ve germinated.

Compost it

 

[steveR]

I know a farmer that doesn't seem to own a pen-knife.

Roll on bidegradable net wrap....

 

[puppet]

I would have it in a heartbeat if it was free from the rubbish, in fact even with a little bit of rubbish I would.
Lets not pretend any farmers dung heap does not have its fair share of bale twine, mastitis tubes and worse.

...and used oil filters the mechanic once threw in the midden. What was he thinking?