Bulky organic materials - Animal wastes

Introduction

Organic farms, apart from some poultry farms, must recycle all their manure on the farm , so you are unlikely to be able to obtain certified organic manures. Try to source manures from 'free range' or low input farms/smallholdings. It is important not to use manures from factory farming systems or where animals have been fed genetically modified (GM) crops.

The way in which these materials are stored or processed before use, and the rates at which they are used is vital to their acceptability in organic growing. Consult the Composts and manures in the organic garden - factsheet.

In 2008, problems arose with the use of manure from animals that had been fed on silage or hay from grass that had been treated with aminopyralid herbicide. For more information see our page on herbicide damage.

Guidelines

Organic soil care | Bulky organic materials - Animal wastes

Best organic practice - the first choice

Manures and bedding from vegetarian pets and livestock kept in garden or allotment.

Organic soil care | Bulky organic materials - Animal wastes

Acceptable organic practice

Straw-based horse, cattle, pig and goat manures, from organic systems, well rotted before use

Organic soil care | Bulky organic materials - Animal wastes

Acceptable, but not for regular use

Straw-based horse, cattle, pig and goat manures, from non intensive systems, well rotted before use
Woodshavings based horse manure, well rotted. This is best used only as a mulch, on established trees and shrubs, to avoid the risk of nitrogen robbery Explanation of nitrogen robbery.
Poultry manures from non intensive egg and meat-producing systems.
See also:
- Footnote about Poultry systems
Commercially available composted straw-based animal manures, preferably with an organic symbol.
See also:
- Chicken manure pellets - see Animal based fertilisers

Organic soil care | Bulky organic materials - Animal wastes

Not suitable for organic gardening

Manures and processed by-products from intensive farming
Materials polluted with heavy metals and other pollutants that exceed the permitted levels.
See also:
- Note about Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs)
Products containing sewage
Compost activators containing artifical fertilisers
Manures from livestock fed on Genetically Modified crops

Footnote. Poultry systems from which manure can be used in an organic garden:

a) Egg production systems (defined by EU Regulation No. 1274/91): free-range (max.400 birds/acre); semi-intensive (max.1600 birds/acre); deep litter (max.7 birds/sq m).
b) Deep litter pallet rearing systems (max. housing density of birds 17kg/sq m).
c) Meat producing systems (defined by EEC Regulation No. 1538/91); free-range, traditional free-range; extensive indoor barn reared (max housing density mature birds 12 hens or 17-25kg/sq m).

Comment Script

Members' Comments

Poultry

I like many other members keep hens. We use wood shavings in the houses cleaning them out each week, so we get a large volume. I put the in a compost bin sometimes adding grass cuttings when available. After the bin is full I keep it for a year and the use it on my brassica beds. If this is not considered an acceptable organic practice it would concern me and give a large disposal problem.

Alan Booth - 11/18/2008 - 12:03

Using wood shavings

The only reason that wood shavings are included in the 'not for regular use' section is because of the risk of nitrogen robbery. A well rotted mixture of shavings and chicken manure should be safe to use, and it is quite acceptable organically.

Garden Organic - 02/19/2009 - 13:25

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