TERRENE
INSTITUTE
Publications Division
Washington, DC
oEPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
Water Management Division, Water Quality Management Branch
Dallas, TX
February 1994
Pollution Control for Horse
Stables and Backyard Livestock
s more people move to suburban
communities and begin to keep horses
or other large animals on their
property, pollution control for
livestock waste is an increasing
concern. Owners of only a few acres
often find handling and disposing of
animal manure and bedding difficult.
Locating a community of small landowners with
livestock near a more urban development whose
owners and users are less tolerant of the odors
and flies associated with even the most
meticulous facility is also becoming common.
Keeping peace with one's neighbors is certainly
an important reason to manage backyard manure
properly, but environmental and health reasons
are also important.
Whenever large animals are stabled on small
pieces of property, their wastes are concentrated.
Animal wastes contain nutrients—nitrogen and
phosphorus—as well as bacteria or other
pathogens. With each rain, these wastes can wash
off the land and into the nearest creek, stream,
lake, pond, or wet area. The wastes travel by
overland flow or through storm sewers that are
not routed through a wastewater treatment plant.
In the water, phosphorus and nitrogen fertilize
aquatic plants and weeds. As the plants and weeds
proliferate and decay, the dissolved oxygen that
fish need to survive is depleted. The bacteria and
other pathogens associated with animal waste can
make the water unfit for drinking without
treatment. They can also make the water unsafe for
human contact and recreational sports such as
fishing, swimming, or skiing.
These pollutants can also contaminate
groundwater supplies, especially if shallow or
improperly cased wells are downslope from the
animals or their waste.
High nitrates, a form of
nitrogen, in drinking
water are especially
dangerous to babies,
and bacteria is harmful
to everyone. Many of
the same communities
that allow backyard
livestock also get their
drinking water from
private on-site wells or
small water systems.
Public water systems
that serve 25 or more
people must be
periodically tested, but
individual well-owners
are often not regulated.
Confining large
animals to small lots
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presents another environmental concern for
backyard livestock owners. Regardless of the
amount of supplemental feed provided, large
animals will continue grazing until all palatable
vegetation is gone. On especially small lots (one or
two acres), the animals that are allowed free and
continuous access to vegetation quickly graze-out
and trample pasture grasses and forbs. These areas
Management Techniques
are then replaced by noxious weeds and brush,
and even these less palatable species can be
trampled into oblivion. The resulting bare ground
is more subject to erosion from wind and water,
and the sediment and contaminants from, these lots
can enter waterbodies and interfere with fish and
wildlife habitat.
wners or managers of backyard
livestock facilities have limited
options to control animal waste
because their operations are small.
An animal waste management
system designed to protect water
quality generally consists of these
components:
• correct siting and design of facility;
• collection, storage, and disposal or use of the
waste;
• pasture management; and
• exercise or barn lot management.
While different types of livestock produce
different quantities and chemical compositions of
waste, managers of a limited number of horses,
cattle, swine, poultry, goats, or donkeys can
generally follow similar guidelines.
Siting and Design
One of the best methods to prevent pollution from
backyard livestock is to site barns, corrals,
paddocks or lots, and pasture fences properly. A
good rule is to keep as much filtering vegetation
as possible between animals or animal wastes and
any waterbody. Siting barns and other high-use
areas on the portion of the property that drains
away from the nearest water is also beneficial.
Never site high-use areas adjacent to creeks,
streams, or wet areas because pollution is difficult
to control from these areas. Disease prevention
and pest control are also more difficult when
high-use areas are located too close to water.
Properly placing barns, paddocks, pasture
fences, and water supplies on the property is a
simple way to prevent pollution. Drainage,
confinement, and fences are important factors to
include in the design and placement of these
facilities as illustrated in Figure 1.
Drainage must be adequate to keep animals dry
and disease free. Runoff should not be allowed to
discharge directly into a stream, creek, or other
waterbody. Placing a diversion terrace above a
high-use area may prevent outside runoff from
flowing across the bare or manure-containing
paddock and storage areas. A diversion placed
below the high-use area will help direct runoff
from the lot away from water or wet areas. The
terraces must outlet to an area with
well-established vegetation that is sufficiently large
to filter the flow. Sometimes a vegetated benn,
placed around the three upslope sides of the
paddock, works as well as a diversion (see p. 5, Lot
or Paddock Care).
A properly fenced area that confines the
animals most of the day and night is essential to
protect the pastures, grasses, and forbs on small
properties. Horses need adequate exercise to stay
healthy, and they can be let out daily for limited
periods to exercise and graze. If they are allowed
free and continuous access, horses will degrade the
pastures.
A small property grazed by livestock needs two
pastures or lot areas divided by a sturdy, safe
fence. Pastures should not contain a creek or other
waterbody. Allowing livestock access to the creek
will break down the streambank and deposit waste
directly into the water.
Collection and Storage
Collect manure and soiled bedding daily from
stalls and paddocks and place in temporary or
long-term storage. Expensive collection
equipment and storage facilities are not required.
Collection may be with a fork, manure shovel and
wheelbarrow, or a small tractor, depending on the
size of the bam and paddock and the number of
livestock.
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Figure 1.—Properly designed backyard livestock facility.
Protect the storage facility from rainfall and
surface runoff so that the runoff does not carry
pollutants to the nearest waterbody Storage units
should be designed to hold a certain amount of
waste for a specific period. Regardless of the
storage facility chosen, it should be sturdy and
resistant to insects, rodents, and other
disease-carrying creatures. Effective storage units
include
• plastic garbage cans with lids,
• fly-tight wooden or concrete storage sheds,
• pits or level trenches lined with an
impermeable layer and covered,
• composters, and
• outdoor storage of manure in piles on top of,
and covered with, dark plastic.
Average manure production rates for various
livestock can be used to estimate the size of
storage units. As a rule, values from Table 1. may
be used.
Disposal and Use
The disposal or use method for manure and other
waste should be part of the solution, not part of
the problem. Ensure that the selected method
does not merely transfer the waste from one part
of the property to another. Instead, .allow the safe
and efficient treatment, containment, or uptake of
the nutrients, bacteria, and sediment associated
with backyard livestock production.
Road
Table 1.—Average waste production rates per
day for livestock.
LIVESTOCK
Horse
Cattle
Sheep
Swine
Goat
MANURE PRODUCED
0.7 cu. ftJt.OOOIbs
bodyweight
1.1 cu.ftVI ,000 Ibs
bodyweight
0.65 cu. ft./1 ,000 Ibs
live weight
0.5cu.ft./1,000lbs
bodyweight
0.6 cu. ft/1 ,000 Ibs
live weight
BEDDING USED
(APPROXIMATIONS)
3-5 gal shavings
1 -3 gal sand
3-6 gal sand
1 gal sand
1-4 gal sand
2-6 gal straw
1 gal sand
• Pasture and cropland fertilization. Manure or
manure and bedding can be spread on pasture or
cropland as fertilizer. Soil nutrient levels should be
measured before adding the material to determine
an application rate that will protect water quality
and provide efficient nutrient uptake. The nutrient
content of the manure will vary depending on the
types of livestock and the feed ratio. Horse
manure averages 0.6 percent nitrogen and 0.1
percent phosphorous. It is generally dry and easy
to handle.
orse manure or compost to pastures at
least two to three weeks before they will be
grazed by horses. The application of raw horse
manure to land that is being grazed may spread
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internal parasites. In some cases, properly
composted material may be used. Even with
composted material, many horses will not graze
pastures with freshly applied material, so the
flexibility of a two or more pasture system is
essential (see rotational grazing). As with any
fertilizer, do not apply the material during or just
before rainstorms or to frozen ground. Many
suburban lots do not have enough land to
properly dispose of their animal waste. An
agreement with neighbors to apply the waste to
their farms or pastureland may be needed.
• Lawn fertilization. Lawns can be fertilized with
raw manure, although composted material is
preferred because it is easy to handle and has less
odor. As with pasture fertilization, a soil test
should be used to set application rates. On lawns
that require high maintenance and many
nutrients, manure is not likely to meet the nitrogen
requirement without exceeding the recommended
phosphorus rate. Therefore, some lawns will need
an additional application of plain commercial
nitrogen fertilizer.
• Mushrooms. Some commercial mushroom
growers use composted horse manure as a
growing media. These operations need a reliable
source and adequate quantities of the material. A
single suburban owner with two or three horses
would not provide enough material. A group of
horse owners, however, might form a cooperative
to contract with local mushroom growers for
delivery dates and amounts.
• Nursery and greenhouse use. Some
containerized nurseries and greenhouses use
composted horse manure and bedding as porting
material. Nurseries must sterilize the material to
eliminate any disease-causing organisms; thus, the
price received for the material will likely be low.
This option might better be viewed as an
environmentally protective disposal and reuse
method rather than as a profit generator.
• Gardens. Composted manure is especially
valuable as a soil amendment for gardens. It can
be incorporated into the garden before spring and
fall plantings and to the garden surface at other
times during the growing season. Compost
improves soil aeration, provides food for
beneficial earthworms, increases water infiltration,
improves soil tilth and fertility, and over time can
even improve soil structure. Composted manure
can be used in home gardens, landscape planting
beds, commercial truck farms, community
gardens, botanical parks, or anywhere the soil
would benefit from increased organic matter. As
with any soil amendment, proper incorporation
and timing are important to prevent runoff and
water contamination.
Composting
Composting is a natural process that reduces the
bulk, odors, and bacteria in raw manure. While
composting results in a product that is easy to
handle and transport, it is not a disposal method.
Compared to commercial fertilizer, compost
nutrient value is low. Thus, it is primarily used as
a soil amendment or as supplemental nutrition for
plants. Composted material can still be a source of
water pollution and, therefore, requires proper
storage and protection from rainfall or runoff.
Composting is simple and inexpensive.
Detailed guidance on composting is available
from books, government publications, and local
agricultural agents. Several commercial
composting bins are available at discount stores
and lawn and garden centers. The local
Cooperative Extension Service agent can also
provide plans and specifications for homeowners
and managers who prefer to build their own
compost bins. Composting may also be done by
piling materials on a plastic cover that protects the
ground. A containment area made of pressure
treated lumber is also recommended. A two-bin
system is ideal for composting, since once the
process begins, no new manure should be added.
The second bin can be used as storage for new
manure. Piles or bins should be at least 3 feet
square and 3 feet deep to maintain the proper
composting temperature of at least 160 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Mixtures of litter—manure, urine, bedding
(shavings, straw, etc.) or other bulking material
such as dry leaves, grass dippings, or
sawdust—should be combined in the bin. Maintain
moisture levels of approximately 50 percent, and
aerate the pile by turning it every other day. A
batch of compost is completed in about two to six
weeks, depending on the season. Bins that are
covered and turned correctly and that maintain the
proper high temperature are not attractive to
insects or rodents. Ammonia odors, large numbers
of flies, or small rodents are signs that the
composter is not working properly. Figure 2 is an
example of a two-bin composter.
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Figure 2.—Two-bin composter.
Slats
Posts
Chicken
wire
Concrete pad
o ensure that animal waste deposited.in
paddocks and stalls will not cause a
water quality problem is as simple as
frequent and periodic removal of waste
and storage in a protected location.
Paddock stabilizing and management
practices help to prevent erosion and
sediment movement from a normally
bare area. A vegetative border, diversion terrace,
or berm may also help pollution control.
Filter strips and borders of closely spaced
perennial grass plants trap sediment moving from
the paddock or lot. These areas must be protected
from grazing to maintain vegetation height and
density. Planting the borders outside the paddock
fence, far enough away so that the horse cannot
astures and fields in poor condition are
a common sight in semirural or
suburban areas with backyard
livestock. Attempting to graze large
animals, especially horses, on small
pastures usually results in overuse of
pasture grasses and invasion by
noxious weeds. Because horses have
both upper and lower incisor teeth, they are
particularly damaging to grasses when they
exceed the areas' recommended stocking
rate—the number of animals per acre that can
safely graze in a particular climate and grass area.
nibble them, is important. Runoff should flow
across the border as a shallow sheet.
A diversion terrace that hinders the flow of
runoff across the lot also protects the paddock. A
different diversion can be used to direct runoff
originating in the paddock or lot to a
well-vegetated area for further filtering. In this
case, a level spreader is required to ensure the flow
is not concentrated; if it is, the filter strip is not
effective.
Berms may be helpful if vegetated and placed
on the upslope perimeter of the paddock. Take
special care, though, not to turn the paddock into a
pond. A well drained, dry lot is essential to
maintaining equine health.
Horses can nip plants at ground level and easily
pull plants and their roots from the soil.
Backyard livestock cannot be allowed
continuous access to pasture if the number of
animals per acre exceeds the recommended
stocking rate. Confining animals to lots and pens
and providing proper pasture care and use are
essential to maintain a steady supply of grass and
a noneroding pasture. Local conservation district
officials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil
Conservation Service offices, and Cooperative
Extension Service offices can provide assistance
and guidance to private individuals and horse
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stable operators on proper stocking rates for local
pastures.
Interseeding and rotational grazing are
especially effective in maintaining pasture health
and vigor. In areas with sufficient moisture,
grasses with different growing requirements—such
as season of growth or nutrient uptake rate-^-can
be interseeded in existing pastures. This practice
provides two benefits—an extended season of use
and additional nutrient uptake for pollution
control. A warm season pasture, such as coastal
bermuda grass, can be overseeded with an annual
cool season grass, such as rye, to extend the time
livestock have access to green, growing grass. The
Where to Get Help
cool season annual is also effective in using
nutrients from compost applied to the land when
the warm season grass is no longer absorbing
these potential pollutants.
Rotational grazing divides pasture or range
land into smaller pastures or units and moves
livestock from one area to another before grass
supplies become stressed. Many suburban horse
owners do not have enough pasture land to graze
the area continuously, even with rotational grazing
practices. When horses or other livestock are
allowed pasture access for only brief periods, grass
plants are more uniformly grazed and livestock are
assured fresh growing grass.
ontact the following list of agencies or
groups to help you answer additional
questions on pollution control for
horse stables.
• Your local Cooperative Extension
Service offices (The 4-H youth horse
program has excellent materials
applicable to all ages)
Your local Soil and Water Conservation
District offices
• Your local U.S. Department of Agriculture
Soil Conservation Service offices
• Breed associations often have written
materials and technical information
available to members and nonmembers
• Many local high schools have a vocational
agriculture department that often maintains
textbooks and files on various production
and agribusiness practices and opportunities
• Your local library has a number of books on
horse and pasture care
TERRENE
INSTITUTE
This projecl was-produced 15y$ie Terrene Institute under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region^ 6y\^ater Management Division, Water Quality Management Branch. Prepared by
Susan V. Alexander-and the Terrene Institute staff. For copies of this publication and others in the series, contact
the Terrene Institute,'1717 K Street, NW, Suite 801, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 833-8317, or the U.S. Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency^ Region 6,1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202, (214) 655-7140.
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