How to Get Rid of Cow Manure & Urea Smells From the Barn
If you own a dairy farm or live near one, you may have wrestled with the issue of odor. A dairy barn that is well maintained shouldn't have issues with odors in the barn. However, a diary barn is a carefully balanced environment. If one element is out of balance, the result could be odors. Removing the smell from a dairy barn is a process of restoring balance to the barn.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Check your ventilation system. A well-ventilated barn draws the smell of urine or cow manure into the air and away from the barn. If your barn smells, then the ventilation system may be broken. Fixing ventilation problems will reduce odors.
-
2
Note the temperature inside the barn. Manure odors are worse in a hot environment. If your barn seems too warm inside, then the climate control system may be causing the odors. Cooling the air will help to resolve the smell problem.
-
-
3
Examine your livestock. If the cows are comfortable, they are less odorous. However, when a cow experiences discomfort its behavior pattern changes. Cows may become restless, eat more and defecate more. The culprits for your cow's discomfort may include biting flies, or a broken climate control system making them too hot. By regulating the temperature of the barn and eliminating pests such as flies, you can help reduce the odor by reducing the manure.
-
4
Remove the manure. If your system for controlling the manure and the bedding that soaks up urea is not efficient, the substances can build up and cause a smell. Removing manure and urea-soaked bedding also removes the smell from the barn.
-
5
Check out your drainage system. Manure is a nitrogen-rich, organic substance that smells when damp, but has little odor once it dries. If your barn smells, it may be an indicator of damp conditions. Improving drainage will help to eliminate urine and manure odors.
-
6
Add more straw or sawdust. In gardening, manure is considered a nitrogen-rich green material. When a compost pile begins to stink, there is typically too much green material rotting in the compost bin. Adding carbon-rich brown materials such as sawdust or straw helps to restore the balance of the compost bin and eliminate odors. Adding more sawdust or loose straw or hay to your barn will help restore the balance to the rotting mix and eliminate odors.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Substances such as charcoal can temporarily absorb odors. However, unless the root cause of the odor is changed, this is just a temporary fix.
