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Livestock Manure
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REVISED JANUARY 2005 FACT SHEET #12
L 2) to apply the manure at
an appropriate time to
minimize any potential
environmental impact. It is
ground storage structures may break
and release a large volume of liquid
manure all at once, which also
threatens both ground and surface
vestock
recommended that manure be stored water.
Li over the winter months. Liquid manure
does not soak into the frozen soil,
which increases the likelihood of
What about the odour from
stored manure?
manure runoff into surface water during Manure storage structures or sites
the spring melt. Regulations are in should be located to minimize odour
place to control winter application of nuisance to neighbours. A fact sheet in
manure. this series, Siting Livestock Production
Operations describes choosing a
What are the suitable location for manure storage.
environmental concerns Manitoba’s Farm Practices Guidelines for
about manure storage? Beef, Dairy, Hog or Poultry Producers
The main concern with earthen manure contains recommendations on
storage is the possibility of a slow leak separation distances between
and movement of soluble compounds neighbours and storage structures.
into ground or surface water. Above- Another fact sheet Livestock Odours:
Introduction
Specific government regulations
are in place for the construction
and operation of manure storage
structures. Producers must be
capable of storing livestock manure
until it can be applied to crop land.
Why is manure stored?
There are two major reasons for storing
manure:
1) to allow its application as fertilizer
at the most practical and beneficial
time for crops. Manure contains
nutrients worth thousands of dollars
to producers who wish to use
manure rather than commercial
fertilizers; and
Solid manure stored near poultry operation.
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Prepared by Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives,
Manitoba Conservation and Manitoba Health.
REVISED JANUARY 2005 FACT SHEET #12
Sources, Concerns & Solutions addresses structures may be either in-ground operation size, are subject to specific
odour issues from livestock operations. (earthen structures or concrete tanks) construction standards.
or above-ground (concrete or steel
In 1998, the construction standards
How is manure stored? tanks). In Manitoba, earthen manure
were expanded to include all new and
The type of manure storage depends on storage structures are the most
modified manure storage structures.
whether the manure is handled in solid, common. Concrete storage structures
Through a permit process, The Livestock
semi-solid or liquid form. can be designed as under-barn, partially
Manure and Mortalities Management
Solid manure can be stored in piles underground or above-ground
Regulation MR42/98, requires that all
that may be located in the farm yard or structures. Steel structures are also
new manure storage structures be
directly in the fields where spreading is available for above-ground liquid
designed and constructed under the
intended. manure storage.
supervision of a professional engineer.
Semi-solid systems are sometimes Manitoba Conservation inspects all
Are there specific storage structures at critical points
used in dairy operations where requirements for manure
producers add bedding to the pens or during construction.
storage?
stalls of livestock but not enough to Design specifications for earthen
Yes. Since 1994, all manure storage
absorb all the liquids. This semi-solid manure storage structures are
structures and solid manure piles must
manure cannot be piled or pumped. developed to address the site’s
be located more than 100 metres from
Therefore, it must be pushed through geological conditions. The regulation
surface watercourses, wells or springs.
underground pipes to the bottom of a allows a seepage rate under earthen
Where necessary, berms or dikes must
shallow structure referred to as a manure storage structure no greater
be provided to ensure that no liquid
“molehill.” than 3 cm/year and only then where
runs into or away from solid or semi-
Liquid manure storage structures are solid manure piles. In addition, all there is at least 5 metres of clay
used by most pork producers and some earthen manure storage structures built naturally located under the structure.
dairy and egg-laying operations. These in Manitoba, regardless of the livestock This seepage rate is set to protect the
groundwater located below the clay.
Where soil at a given location does not
have enough natural clay, a clay liner
must be installed. If a shallow aquifer is
located beneath the area, the earthen
manure storage structure must be built
with a plastic liner. A monitoring well
system used to detect leaks is required
any time a liner is used.
Producers must install concrete ramps
in the earthen manure storage
structures to provide access for
equipment. Grass must be seeded on
the sides of earthen manure storage
structures to prevent erosion from
rainfall.
Earthen manure storage structures,
when designed to meet current
Above-ground steel structure for storage of liquid manure. standards and operated to maintain the
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REVISED JANUARY 2005 FACT SHEET #12
structural integrity of their floors, walls, over winter for application the Most earthen manure storage
and liners, are secure for storing manure. following year. These storage structures structures are built to provide storage
must be big enough to store manure for for more than 400 days. This long
Are lagoons and earthen storage at least 200 days. Operations between storage capacity gives the producer
structures the same thing? 300 and 399 AU have until November more flexibility in applying the manure
No. Earthen manure storage
10, 2010 to comply with the prohibition when the crop needs it
structures are often incorrectly called
on winter spreading. Why are earthen manure storage
“lagoons”. Lagoons are waste
treatment facilities designed to Earthen manure storages that were structures so common in
“digest” municipal sewage. Earthen constructed before 1994 as well as Manitoba?
manure storage facilities and lagoons steel and concrete manure storages Earthen manure storage structures
may look the same but a lagoon must built prior to 1998 must be registered can be affordably constructed to
be larger to allow for the biological provide 400 to 500 days storage
with Manitoba Conservation. Permitted
activity required for treatment. capacity. These storage structures are
storages are deemed registered. The
Treated effluent from lagoons that environmentally sound options when
deadline for application for registration site conditions are suitable.
meets standards may be discharged
was June 10, 2004. Manitoba
into surface water. Manure must not
Conservation must inspect the storage
be discharged into surface water. Are Manure Storage
prior to registration and can require
Structures Inspected?
that any problems be fixed. A manure
Yes. Manitoba Conservation has the
How big must liquid manure storage structure that has not been
mandate to inspect all manure storage
storage structures be? registered with Manitoba Conservation
structures yearly.
Livestock operations with 300 animal cannot be used after November 10,
units and greater must store all manure 2010. Inspections are scheduled for shortly
after manure storage
structures have been
emptied since any
damage will be more
visible at that time. If
results from
monitoring wells
reveal contamination
that could have come
from the stored
manure, Manitoba
Conservation will
order the operator to
hire a qualified third-
party investigator to
determine the source
of the contaminants.
Where necessary,
Manitoba
Conservation will
order appropriate
Earthen storage structure for liquid manure. repairs to the storage
structures.
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REVISED JANUARY 2005 FACT SHEET #12
Summary For further information about livestock Other titles available include:
Livestock manure can be managed in production, refer to other titles in the
• Health Issues and Livestock
an environmentally sound manner series: “Living with Livestock
Production
when the requirements of The Livestock Production,” available from Manitoba
Manure and Mortalities Management Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives • Livestock Odours – Sources, Concerns
Regulation are met. By storing manure, offices. and Solutions
the farmer can use it as a fertilizer at More detailed information can
• Surface Water Issues
the most appropriate and effective time be found on the Internet at
in the crop production cycle. When www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock. • Nitrates in Soil and Water
constructed in accordance with Copies of the Farm Practices Guidelines • Land Application of Manure
regulation, inspected annually and for Hog Producers (1998 edition) and
operated with care, manure storage Poultry Producers (2000 edition) in • Siting Livestock Production
structures provide environmental Manitoba* are available from Manitoba Operations
protection during the expected lifetime Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives • Understanding Anti-microbial
of the operation. offices in rural Manitoba and from Resistance
Agriculture Publications 8th floor, 401
York • Food Safety on the Farm
Avenue, Winnipeg MB R3C 0P8 • Livestock Operations and
(FAX: 204-948-2498) Groundwater Quality
* The 1995 editions of the other titles of • Livestock Pathogens – A Natural
the series are presently available; they Occurrence
are being updated.
• Managing Livestock Mortalities
• Confinement of Livestock
• Phosphorous in Soil and Water
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