Manure Handling for Livestock Operations

Manure is a daily product on any livestock farm. Handling it well takes the right equipment, a plan for storage and spreading, and respect for the hazards.

Key points

Match equipment to the form of manure you handle.
Locate storage away from wells and water and follow local rules.
Never enter a manure pit or tank without training and equipment.
Use soil tests and a nutrient plan before spreading.
Wash and inspect equipment regularly, and consider custom hauling.

What equipment moves manure?

Small farms often rely on a wheelbarrow, a fork and a loader bucket. Skid steers and loader tractors handle scraping and loading. Manure forks and spreaders, tank spreaders for liquid, and conveyors for barn gutters serve bigger operations.

Choose by the form of manure you have: solid, semi-solid or liquid, and by how often you handle it.

Think about where the manure comes from. A barn with a stall floor needs different tools than a feedlot pen, and a pasture-based herd may not need a spreader at all, only a harrow in spring to break up piles.

How do you plan storage?

Storage keeps manure out of waterways and gives you control over timing. A pile on a pad, a roofed shed or a lined pit are common choices. Location matters: keep storage away from wells, streams and drainage paths.

Rules and cost-share programs vary. Check with your local NRCS office, your state agriculture or environmental agency and your extension office.

Think about weather. A pad that is accessible when the ground is frozen or soaked saves you from trying to drive heavy equipment across a mess.

Away from wells and surface water.
On a pad or lined structure where required.
Accessible for equipment in wet weather.
Planned for the size of herd and storage time.

What spreader types are available?

Box spreaders with beaters handle solid manure and compost. Tank spreaders handle liquid. Smaller pull-behind spreaders suit hobby operations. Match the spreader to your tractor, as the manual lists the PTO speed, power and hitch it needs.

A drawn spreader is heavy when loaded. Check that your tractor can stop and control it, especially on hills.

Level the load before you drive, since an uneven load shifts and makes a spreader unstable on a hill. Do not overfill beyond what the manufacturer specifies. Keep spreader gates, aprons and chains in working order, since a failed part can dump a load in the wrong place.

What are the safety hazards?

Manure pits and tanks can contain gases that are dangerous or deadly, and the danger is greatest in enclosed spaces. Never enter a pit or tank without proper training and equipment, and follow OSHA and extension guidance on confined spaces. Would-be rescuers have been overcome too, so call emergency services rather than going in after someone.

Spreader beaters and PTO drivelines catch clothing. Shut off the tractor and the PTO before clearing anything, and keep shields on.

How do you handle manure responsibly?

Application timing, rate and location affect crops and water. Soil testing and a nutrient plan help avoid over-application. Your extension office can help you build a plan, and some states require plans for certain operations.

Do not apply on frozen, saturated or steeply sloped ground where runoff is likely, and keep distance from streams and wells as local rules require.

Keep records of where and when you spread. They help you plan, and they matter if your state requires a plan or an inspection.

How do you maintain manure equipment?

Manure is corrosive. Wash equipment after use, grease fittings and inspect chains, beaters and floor slats. Replace worn parts before they fail. Check the hitch and PTO shaft and keep shields in place.

Store the spreader so that its floor can drain and dry.

Check the PTO shaft carefully. A bent or damaged shaft or missing shield is a serious hazard, and it should be replaced rather than worked around.

When is it better to hire a custom hauler?

A small farm with a few animals may find that a custom hauler or a neighbor with a spreader costs less than owning one. Larger operations often hire help at peak season. Ask your accountant and your NRCS office about costs and programs, since terms vary.

Before you hire, ask what equipment the hauler uses, how they handle weight limits on your lane, and whether they carry insurance. Agree on where the manure will go and who is responsible for rules about spreading locations.

When to get help: Ask your NRCS office, extension office and state agriculture or environmental agency about plans, rules and cost-share, and an accountant about equipment costs. Call a trained confined-space professional for any pit or tank work.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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