Cleaning Up Cow Waste
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| Retha Colclasure |
| 9/29/2009 |
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| It`s smelly, it`s messy, and it all goes somewhere. But some ranchers around the states are trying to find ways to keep cow manure out of local watersheds. One way they`re doing that is by installing feedlot systems that trap manure, and let them use it in a more beneficial way, as fertilizer. This pool of water might be good enough for a duck, but it`s certainly not something you want to swim in. "It runs downhill and it goes into a diversion and gets in what we call a solid separator, which does what it says," says John Steckler, a rancher near St. Anthony. "It" is manure, a very common product in this feedlot that`s normally home to about 600 cows. "You just sit back and let it do its job," says Steckler. Rain and snow act like a giant flusher in the feedlot, but instead of the solid waste ending up in a nearby stream, it`s put to good use as fertilizer on the field. "The wastewater goes into a holding pond and that kinda takes care of itself, it evaporates from there," Steckler says. The system was designed to help keep areas around the feedlot free of that unwanted waste. "The animals have a lot more room, they can get around, it`s a comfortable, dry place for them," says Rachel Fast, of the Morton County Conservation District. "It`s a lot healthier for the animals, too." She says ranchers are able to handle their cattle more efficiently in a smaller area. It costs a lot of money to put a system like this in, about $400 for each cow. But producers say in the long run, it`s worth it. "It was quite evident how good it works this spring, we had all the moisture and snow melt as we did," says Steckler. "We had a lot more waste that held back." That means less time cleaning out the feedlot, and more time in a job that doesn`t stink as much. There are several cost-share programs available for ranchers who are interested in installing a waste-management system. For more information about those, you can contact your local soil conservation district office. |
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