Agricultural and environmental issues in the management of cattle manure

Manure management systems should account for the fate of excreted nutrients that are of environmental concern Currently, N and P are most monitored to assure water quality. Land application of manure at acceptable levels to fertilize crops is the basis of most systems. Cattle-producing farms with insufficient crop production potential to recycle manure nutrients need to reduce excretions if possible and develop affordable systems to concentrate manure nutrients to reduce hauling costs and possibly produce a salable product. Composting selected manure solids oxidizes most odorous volatiles, reduces volume, and encourages combination with other organic wastes. Solutions to odor problems are needed. Generating energy from manure organic matter via anaerobic digestion reduces atmospheric emissions of methane and odors but, thus far, has not been economical.