How to Make Cow Manure Compost

Cow manure compost is prized by fruit and flower growers.

In the world of gardening, composting reigns supreme. Brimming with nutritional elements, compost is quickly becoming a common staple in residential gardening. One of the most nutrient-dense fertilizers is cow manure compost. Composting this material is simple, and after it has been applied to a garden, it helps yield a bounty of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Things You'll Need

• Cow manure
• Lime
• Wood ash

Instructions

1. Locate a cow manure supplier. Cow manure may be obtained from both dairy and meat producing farms. Manure from dairy cattle tends to be more nutrient dense, while manure from meat producing farms tends to carry more weed seeds. Obtain your manure from a farm that carries a good reputation for the treatment of its animals, and choose organic if possible.

2. Build your compost pile. While cow manure can be composted in a compost bin, the quantities are usually large enough to require a compost pile. A compost pile can be constructed with chicken wire walls and posts, but free form piles produce the same results. Layer your manure directly on the ground in a location close enough to the garden for easy application, but far enough away that any potential odor or visual distraction will not be a problem. Do not stamp it down or place the manure in a pit, as this can cause bacteria build up. This is especially important for the moisture levels of the compost pile. The pile should remain barely moist, but never wet or soggy, which will result in the growth of bacteria. Piles that are too wet benefit from the addition of chopped straw or wood ash. Piles that are too dry and fail to begin composting should be lightly watered.

3. Sprinkle the manure with lime. Lime will help the composting process along, and will discourage flies from invading.

4. Add a layer of soil. Based on the size of your compost pile, cover the pile with 15 percent soil. This will add microbes to help with the composting process.

5. Aerate the compost pile. Cow manure is a heavy manure, so you will need to aerate the pile every other day or so with a pitchfork, mixing and turning it over to help the oxygen reach all the way into the bottom of the pile. You can also mix in wood shavings or straw to loosen the pile.

6. Check your compost pile for usable fertilizer. Finished fertilizer will have a crumbly texture, and will be earthy and fragrant. This process can take as little as two weeks, but you will have better compost from piles that have aged approximately six months. Cow manure tends to have an abundance of weed seeds. In order to kill the seeds, allow the pile enough time to reach 145 degrees for 30 days. This will not kill all the seeds, but it will kill most of them.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use gloves and protective eye wear when handling manure.

• Work in a well-ventilated area.

• Do not apply manure compost to crops that have edible parts in direct contact with the soil.

References

• Primal Seeds: Compost
• The Savvy Gardeners; All About Composting; Bob Polomski and Nancy Doubrava
• Plant Tea; Manure: Marion Owen
• Mother Earth's Farm; Cow Manure Composting; Christy Ruffner
• University of Kentucky; Organic Fertilizers and Composts for Vegetable Transplant Production; Robert Murray and Robert G. Anderson