| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alpacas of Gettysburg |
Posted - 04/03/2012 : 9:09:13 PM
I am looking for opinions with regard to using alpaca manure on pastures for fertilizer. If we spread it on the pastures, is it safe to put the alpacas right back on those pastures? Thanks. Helen
Alpacas of Gettysburg
suris@alpacasofgettysburg.com
www.alpacasofgettysburg.com
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| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Christiane |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 5:28:50 PM
I have had very few parasite issues with my animals, even though I have spread the manure on their pastures for several years . It seems that what I am doing, is actually helping to make the poor soil I have here, which is mostly heavy clay, much more able to sustain nice pasture. I also use pellets when I deep bed, and they help to break the manure down into pretty even pieces. It is spread fairly thinly and I will let it sit for several weeks now after using my aerator on it and also broadcasting some good grass seed., before putting animals back on it. In addition, when I do my deep bedding, I generally also add lime to it to help make the manure less acidic and to keep the smell down.
Since this tends to be a lot of hard work in the Spring, I am thinking of not doing the deep bedding this coming winter. Maybe, after I get my 10 xd32 ft overhang put on the barn in a few weeks, that will give the animals enough space to do "their potty thing" outside the barn. At least that is my hope. I generally clean up in the barn once or twice a day, depending on how much time I have availble. BTW, I do my own fecals, so I can stay ahead of the game that way and treat before it becomes problem.
Christiane Rudolf
Tanglewood Farm
19741 Victory Lane
Fayetteville, Ohio 45118
(513) 875-2533 |
| jillmcm |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 1:14:15 PM
The heat from proper composting actually kills more parasite eggs than cold, in general - so deep bedding usually results in fewer parasites. I think people have gotten a little paranoid about using manure on their fields - if you spread the manure thinly so that the sun dries it out, and let the field rest a season (e.g., spread the manure in the fall and keep the animals off in the winter), you shouldn't have added significantly to the egg burden that's already out there. The alpacas react mostly to the smell of urea when deciding where to poop (and where not to eat), and that urea is long gone after a winter. It does not affect their grazing at all.
By diligently removing the manure constantly, many of us are impoverishing our fields, which actually leads to less healthy animals in the long run. Many farmers, alpaca farmers included, routinely spread their manure back on their fields and have healthy pastures and healthy animals. The keys are composting or timing to reduce the egg burden, and then not overstocking your fields.
Jill McElderry-Maxwell
Bag End Suri Alpacas of Maine - ¡BESAME!
Benton, ME
(207) 453-0109
bagendsuris@roadrunner.com
http://www.bagendsuris.com
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| highpeaksalpacas |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 11:37:43 AM
We spread all manure on hay fields....have for years....has never caused any issues. We have never spread directly on pastures.
I always find the work involved with "deep bedding" a topic of interest in regard to cleaning it up in the spring. We live in a relatively cold winter climate..and we do not, and have never used ANY bedding. It seems to me that that end of year bedding would possibly be full of parasitic possibilities" Ours live happily through the winter...ok so maybe we let some hay from feeders stay on the ground..but certainly not nearly enough to begin to even cover their stall mats.
Debbie Potter
High Peaks Alpacas
Wilmington, NY
www.alpacanation.com/highpeaks.asp
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| Pepperina |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 01:26:04 AM
In my opinion you will be spreading any residual worm eggs all over your paddock. Note - alpacas don't like to eat near their dung piles and you will be spreading it all over their grazing area.
Unless the manure is properly composted (that requires it reaching very high temperatures) the worm eggs will not be destroyed.
Pepperina Alpacas Forest Hill QLD Australia
Ph: +61754654232
Email pamas@bigpond.com
Website: http://www.pamas.com.au/PepperinaAlpacas.htm |
| Christiane |
Posted - 04/03/2012 : 10:38:34 PM
i have a neighbor who kindly brought his manure spreader over to help me get rid of the winter deep bedding in my barn. Boy that sure beats doing it via a wheelbarrow. I got the manure spreader full twice yesterday and he spread it over the boys' pasture. Today I had another load, and he spread some more over the boys' pasture which badly needs something to improve the soil composition. We are half way there in cleaning out one third of the barn. I think I will not do deep bedding this year. Just takes too much time in the spring to clean it out. This manur has been aged at least five months, so should be fine to help incorporate some good stuff into my clay soil. I would not, however, put fresh manure into the pasture. I also put down lime as I do deep bedding during the winter, so that is already mixed into the aged manure I spread.
My girls' pasture has beautiful green grass growing it int now, and that is probably due to the urea I spread there last fall. They will be moving into that pasture soon.
Christiane Rudolf
Tanglewood Farm
19741 Victory Lane
Fayetteville, Ohio 45118
(513) 875-2533 |
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