How To Make Pigs Compost Manure

How To Make Pigs Compost Manure HOG EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Eric and Anne Nordell have the perfect way to compost horse manure They let pigs do the turning It’s an efficient way to produce field ready compost for their market garden operation Vol 41 No 5 Nordell points out that horse manure is naturally aerated and easily overheats giving off ammonia It needs to be packed which the pigs do in the first stage of their process “You scatter corn across the top like scattering scratch for chickens ” says Nordell “Once the manure/straw pack is 2 1/2 to 3 ft deep you can start having the pigs turn it over ” To get pigs to do the turning you push a steel rod into the pack and dribble corn into the resulting hole “The biggest challenge is to not overfeed them ” says Nordell “You want them to root to the bottom ” Another challenge is managing humidity in the barn Turning the manure releases excess moisture If too much ventilation is allowed the temperature of the pack falls and the material won’t compost as well “It’s a constant balancing act that you have to stay on top of ” says Nordell More details on the Nordell’s bio-extensive system can be found in their Weed the Soil Not the Crop booklet It is available for $10 plus $3 shipping and handling or in a DVD form for $15 plus $3 shipping and handling Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ann and Eric Nordell 3410 Rt 184 Trout Run Penn 17771

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