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| Pasture piles (Summer 2006) |
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Cow pies have many uses. In some parts of the world they are burned for fuel, in others they are tossed for sport. But there’s nothing very useful about a build-up of “cow pies” (or “horse apples” for that matter) in your pasture.
“You’d like manure to dissipate into the soil,” states Keith Johnson, a forage crops specialist with Purdue University. “Droppings that result from animals consuming high-
fiber forage can smother forage re-growth and discourage grazing nearby.”
Break-up piles
If you see manure deposits hanging around for several weeks, Johnson recommends dragging the field with a harrow to break up those “cow pies” and help send their nutrients back into the soil.
Dividing your pasture into smaller paddocks also helps the situation. “By rotating your paddocks, you’ll get more uniform grazing,” notes Johnson, “resulting in less rigid manure piles and better distribution.”
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