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Disposal of Bedding
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The Muck Heap:

  • A permanent muck heap should have: a concrete base with three sides made from either concrete slabs or sleepers. A digger and trailer can remove the muck once full.
  • Once mucking out has been completed, the muck heap should be neatened up by forking it back and arranging it in layered steps. This helps to prevent spontaneous combustion (setting on fire).
  • A non-permanent muck heap is usually a trailer. Once full, it can be taken away by a farmer or tipped on a designated area of the land. It can then be left to rot down and used as fertiliser.

Choice of bedding:

  • The correct type of bedding must be chosen as certain types take longer to rot than others.
  • Horse manure must be rotted for at least two years before spreading onto grazing land. This prevents the re-infection of parasites.

Different ways of disposing of manure:

  • It can be spread onto the grazing land, however it must be thoroughly rotted before being spread.
  • Local farmers may take large amounts away and spread it on their land.
  • For smaller amounts of muck mushroom growers may remove it. They prefer fresh straw manure than shavings.
  • Horse manure is ideal for gardeners growing roses, young trees and shrubs.

 

 

Now test your knowledge:

Describe a permanent muck heap?
How is the muck removed from a permanent muck heap?
What happens when the muck heap spontaneous combusts?
All types of bedding take the same amount of time to rot.
How should the muck heap be arranged after mucking out?
What is typically used for a non-permanent muck heap?
How long should horse muck be left to rot before putting on the land for fertiliser? 
To prevent the reinfection of parasites on the land, horse muck should be left to rot for 6 months.

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