This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Two things are true when it comes to agriculture: where there is cattle, there is manure and where there are crops, there is a need for nutrients. Feedlot operators have been spreading manure… Read More
Manure has been used as fertilizer for a very long time, however with the advent of fewer mixed farms and access to commercial fertilizer, which is easier to transport and often easier to apply, nearly all farmers have moved away from using manure as the primary source of fertilizer on their operations. That being said, Read More
Texas A&M Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab empowers producers with actionable insights on forage, livestock performance The post More to manure than meets the eye appeared first on AgriLife Today.
How does an on-farm biodigester and 2,200 beef cattle merge to make a farm more profitable and sustainable? On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Profitable Practices, Carl Frook shares how Frook Farms and Mar Creek Renewables has come together to help him manage manure, his cattle, his crops, and boost the bottom line for the family.
Farmers Weekly At Paddock Farm in Warwickshire, 300 Hy-line and Dekalb hens follow beef cattle around the grazing rotation, producing an average of 240 eggs a day.
A study led by the University of Nevada, Reno, and published in the journal Rangelands found that cattle grazing on cheatgrass do not spread the invasive grass species through their manure. Researchers found that after being digested in the rumen and abomasum, cheatgrass seeds had nearly complete inhibition of germination.
A 20-year study on diversified cropping systems fertilized with livestock manure, led by Iowa State University researchers, showed environmental benefits but not the expected carbon sequestration. The study results were published in Nature Sustainability.
The increased diversity also provides more nutrient-dense pastures for our cattle to graze on. Instead, lets talk about cattle and making money. Yes, I said we are making more money with fewer cattle. The cattle balanced their own diet between the lush new growth and the high-fiber stockpile.
Before his regenerative transition, Bergler would come home from his work off the farm as a custom home builder and face the time-consuming chores associated with feeding cattle daily, spending hours baling hay, mixing feed, and hauling manure, all of which left little time for the luxury of family time. But were still here, he says.
Cattle raised on lifelong grass diets, termed “pasture finished,” have been traditionally thought to be more environmentally friendly. But the study delves into a more comprehensive analysis, considering factors beyond direct greenhouse gas emissions.
His curiosity eventually landed Stone a tour of the project: Walz Energy, a joint venture between a cattle-feeding operation and an energy company. We need at least 10,000 cows to get enough manure for the amount of methane we want to generate,’” Stone said. Each year, animals in CAFOs produce twice as much waste as the entire U.S.
First, the way in which cattle are raised in modern dairying, and in confined animal feedlots is highly dependent upon fossil fuels. The post A Real Solution to the Cattle Industry’s ‘Methane Problem’ appeared first on Understanding Ag. Misplaced ‘cow shaming’ So how and why do cows get blamed for global warming? We listen to her.
Organic fertilizers such as manure, compost , and other organic amendments are valuable sources of nitrogen. Ammonium nitrogen can be lost quickly through ammonia volatilization if manure or compost is not incorporated into the soil shortly after application. Swine Manure : Typically has 20-35% of total nitrogen as ammonium nitrogen.
Currently, CAFOs in Wisconsin must obtain a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit before disposing of manure and waste. To be classified as a CAFO, an operation must have at least 1,000 animal units (700 milking cows, 1,000 beef cattle, 2,500 pigs, 55,000 turkeys, 82,000 laying hens, or 125,000 chickens). “I
Department of Agricultures (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the start of its National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) , which builds on measures taken by USDA and federal and state partners since the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cattle was first detected in March 2024.
Farm ponds and slow-moving creeks and streams that are enriched with fertilizer runoff and directly deposited manure are the perfect place to find cyanobacteria thriving. Cattle are very sensitive to these toxins and sometimes whole herds of cattle are found dead near the pond when there are high toxin concentrations.
A few days after moving in, concerned neighbors informed her that Ledgeview Farms, a large dairy farm behind her home, was planning to expand, which included building a manure pit to store millions of gallons of waste next to the subdivision. Over the next several years, Porter began noticing manure runoff in the creek her kids would play in.
Bio Security Practices for Manure Biosecurity practices for manure management are essential in safeguarding animal health and preventing the spread of disease on farms. Manure can serve as a reservoir for pathogens, making its handling and disposal a critical aspect of employing biosecurity protocols.
The challenges associated with mud on livestock farms, particularly cattle and horse farms, need to be addressed because their health affects production goals. Not to mention that no livestock owner wants to see their animals covered in mud and manure. Mud and manure harbor harmful bacteria and other pathogens.
based Vence , which was acquired by veterinary pharmaceutical giant Merck Animal Health in 2022, has been slowly rolling out a similar system on larger cattle ranches across the West since 2019. Nofence’s collars cost $299 each for cattle and $199 for goats or sheep, and come with a five-year lifespan.
This system provides an unparalleled solution for removing moisture and oxygen from gas streams, addressing critical purification challenges in livestock applications such as biogas production from manure digesters. iGENDEC is an advanced software tool designed to help cattle producers understand and improve their herd’s genetics.
It even includes the specific type of manure Joly selects to fertilize his vineyards. In a bid to be totally true to his terroir—a French winemaking concept that aims to impart a combination of natural factors including soil, climate and sunlight to the glass—he’s working with a herd of indigenous cattle to “produce” compost.
Plant-forward menus, which offer fiber-rich vegetarian dishes and plant-based proteins alongside animal-based foods, have a significantly lower environmental footprint when it comes to greenhouse gases, water and land use, manure pollution, and harm to wildlife and native habitats.
Payne operates a 300-acre regenerative farm in Concordia, Missouri, an hour outside of Kansas City, where he raises sheep and cattle. Researchers and farmers say silvopastures help improve the health of the soil by protecting it from wind and water, while encouraging an increase of nutrient-rich organic matter, like cow manure, onto the land.
More than 70 percent of North America’s biodiversity-rich prairies have been replaced with wheat, soy, corn, alfalfa and canola, primarily used as cattle feed. These crops are also the largest consumer of increasingly scarce river water in the Western United States.
Hawks, eagles, and falcons : These birds are susceptible to the H5N1 strain Owls, crows, and vultures : These birds are also susceptible to the H5N1 strain Domestic poultry; chickens, quail, and turkeys Pet Birds that have outdoor access Other mammals are also susceptible to this like cats, dogs, cattle, and even humans.
Ruminants like cattle, sheep, and goats have certain protein needs for growth, reproduction, and milk production. Cattle Alfalfa Hay: High in protein and calcium, excellent for dairy cows and young, growing cattle. It is known to be a top choice to grow in grazing areas, for hay, silage, and green manure or cover crops.
Goats are browsers—they’ll eat grass and weeds like cattle and sheep if they have to, but their preference is to eat brush. Both “cut and carry” and “chop and drop” allow for nutrient cycling, especially if the goat manure can be collected and used to fertilize the trees they are eating, closing that loop.
With bale grazing, bales are set in a grid pattern before winter, and cattle are given access to a few bales at a time. For the past six years, winter management meant feeding cattle in a sacrifice area. The data showed that the manure and residue left after bale grazing were worth $610 of nutrients per acre.
America’s cattle producers need a Secretary of Agriculture who will protect family farms and ranches, roll back crushing regulations, and stand up for rural values—and we look forward to working with Secretary-Designate Rollins to make it happen.” 5 during CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. 5 during CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
The Joia Food & Fiber Farm farmstead pictured with sheep, sheepdogs, and cattle grazing. In addition to organic practices including composting and perennial cover crops, he added a silvopasture for his grass-fed cattle. They were a rough crew of sheep!” Johnson laughs. They ate grains that couldn’t be sold.”
But thirsty crops and cattle have taken their toll: Amid California’s cycles of drought, excessive groundwater pumping has left Central Valley basins the most overdrafted in the state. She points to wide-scale implementation of anaerobic digesters, which capture methane from sealed manure lagoons to create biogas.
The other main factor, manure, is also increasing as CAFOs become more prevalent. Nancy Utesch and her husband, Lynn, live on 150 acres of land in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, where they rotationally graze beef cattle. Commercial fertilizer is just one contributor to high nitrate levels in groundwater. coli poisoning in their water. “We
Since in Colorado we really only deal with cattle within our definition of “livestock,” this resource focuses on all aspects to a cattle’s life and what all a farmer needs to cater to in order to abide by the state policies. It also discusses land use and zoning laws that could affect cattle operations in your Southern Colorado area.
Every year, California dairy farms emit hundreds of thousands of tons of the potent greenhouse gas methane, which gets released when livestock operations pool manure in open-air lagoons. However, according to aggregate program data, manure-based fuels generated a total of over 2.1 This story was published in partnership with Grist.
Compost and organic amendments : Regenerative farmers prioritize the use of organic matter, such as compost, manure, and other natural amendments, to enhance soil fertility and microbial activity. Integrating livestock : Some regenerative systems incorporate livestock, such as cattle or sheep, into crop rotations.
One was beef cattle on about 4,000 acres. Nobody puts down carbon for bedding, so all the sheep are on solid manure packs that stink and are filthy. Saturday night I did my last of three 3-hour workshops, just outside of Hebron, and am now heading back home. I should be home Monday afternoon. Here are the protocols.
Here's what you need to know about preventing and treating horse fly bites in horses and cattle: Horse flies are blood-sucking insects that attack livestock, such as horses and cattle. This goes for stalls and pastures, too—pick up manure often to prevent the likelihood of insects. Dirty or muddy water will attract flies.
The Britts now farm 5,000 acres, raising cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat and hay in Randolph, Chariton and Macon counties. The Britts also adopted a rotational grazing system and fenced cattle out of streams and ponds to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.
We came in and spent $15,000 building a pond and putting in water line to service 400 acres (more than triple the NRCS project) and have run as many as 720 head of cattle over there at one time for a decade without failure. This was for 120 acres. Always plenty of water. The NRCS hates ponds; they’re considered a liability.
Instead, he wants his cattle to harvest their own feed via managed rotational grazing, even in the winter. It works as both a cover crop and forage for the cattle, and it’s helping Bedtka build up organic matter in his soil. Bedtka is in his mid-30s and working to raising a small cow-calf beef herd profitably.
In the UK, cattle and sheep dominate, with traditional regionally adapted breeds having been crucial to our health and food security for millennia. While weeding the fields, the camels also fertilise them with their manure. Grazing livestock are a key focus of the SFT’s work and the subject of our next report, due out later this year.
It’s good quality feed, high in protein and fibers for the cattle, but also, the root systems help to break up the hard pan soil that’s formed from being conventionally farmed for years. It’s kinda cool to watch the cattle eat turnips because they’ll eat the leaf first, then the stem, then they’ll pull the turnip up and eat that, as well.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 5,000+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
Let's personalize your content