Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
zeolite product followed by a layer of dry bedding, and return the horse to the stall.
The zeolites will absorb any remaining moisture and odors and hold them until the
next stall cleaning.
If odors are mounting but you don't have time to clean stalls, you can sprinkle a
zeolite product on the wet spots or place an open-top container near the stalls to ab-
sorb odors.
Studies have demonstrated that zeolites are essentially nontoxic to people and an-
imals, whether ingested, on the skin, breathed, or in the eyes. Zeolites are nonflam-
mable and environmentally friendly and can be safely handled around horses' water
and feed with bare hands, which is especially nice for those suffering from chemic-
al sensitivity. Zeolites have a neutral pH of 6.0 to 8.0 and, as an added benefit, used
zeolites are loaded with ammonium ions, which makes them an excellent slow-release
fertilizer for gardens, plant beds, yards, fields, and potting soil.
Managing the Manure Pile
Manure production on even the smallest horse farm requires constant attention. Under-
standably, poor sanitation practices can be a source of neighbor dissatisfaction. As land-
and animal owners, we have the responsibility to be good stewards of our animals and of
the environment. Depending on the government regulations in your area, your horse prop-
erty might be classified as an animal feeding operation (AFO), which would require you
to follow a specified management plan to protect the land and groundwater. Some of the
criteria used in determining if you fall under government regulations relate to how many
horses you have in what amount of space, the size of the confinement area, and whether the
confinement area has forage in it. But even if your farm is not classified as an AFO, you
need to develop an appropriate and conscientious sanitation plan.
A 1000-pound horse produces approximately 50 pounds of manure per day or a little
more than 9 tons per year. In addition to this, a horse produces about 6 quarts of urine per
day, which, when soaked up by bedding, can constitute another 50 pounds daily. Thus, if
you have five average-sized horses living in pens, they will produce more than 45 tons of
manure per year. If you keep them in bedded stalls, you will have 90 tons of manure and
used bedding to manage each year.
About one-fifth of the nutrients a horse eats is passed out in the manure and urine. Ma-
nure is composed of undigested food, digestive juices, and microorganisms. The bacteria
make up as much as 30 percent of the mass! Because urine (usually as soaked bedding) is
a liquid, it contains more dissolved nutrients that are readily available than do feces.
