Mud Management

by Janet Schmidt
WSU Cooperative Extension Agent

In these times of increasing environmental awareness, employing appropriate mud, manure, and pasture management practices can be very beneficial. Winter rains can cause mud and manure run-off into nearby streams, rivers, or lakes. Animals allowed free access to stream or lake banks can cause severe erosion, heavy siltation loads, and high coliform counts in the water. Appropriate practices include fencing livestock from stream banks. If this is the animalís primary source of water, perhaps water could be pumped to a nearby trough.

An important key to mud management is the use of gutters, downspouts, splashblocks, and drainfields. A tremendous amount of roof runoff could be diverted through a drainage system. This would reduce the amount of mud and water around barns or buildings. To figure rain runoff...dimension of the roof X rain fall x 0.62 = gallons of runoff. For example, the dimension of the roof to the peakó20í X 50í = 1000 square feet X 1" rainfall X 0.62 = 620 gallons. For questions related to drain field design and installation, contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service personnel.

Other important mud, manure, and pasture management practices include keeping animals confined to a smaller area or paddock during the wet months. This will reduce pasture destruction, compaction, mud, weed infestation, and may save on feed costs. Manure and soiled bedding should be composted if possible. It can be placed in a "manure dump" or designated area. It is recommended to cover the compost area with a roof or plastic. Composted manure can be applied to fields or pastures to meet some of its nutrient requirements. It is not an acceptable practice to dump manure down a bank of a ravine with a natural waterway flowing through it.

Now for a few tips on pasture management. The Pacific Northwest has an abundant supply of grass for several months of the year. If managed properly, pastures can provide a major portion of an animalís nutrient requirements. Important pasture management practices include: soil testing every three to four years, application of manure and/or fertilizer as indicated by the soil test, avoid overgrazing pastures, removing animals when the forage has been grazed down to 4 inches, dragging and clipping of pastures, controlling for weeds as necessary, removing animals from pastures during the wet months, employing practices of cross-fencing and intensive grazing as resources allow, and use common sense.

In summary, these are some of the practices and technology that small and large livestock owners can put into practice. Sand, gravel, concrete, hogsfuel, and asphalt can improve a muddy situation. Use drainage to your advantage. Gutters, downspouts, and field drainage will carry water away from high traffic areas and prolong the life of foundations of buildings or wood posts. Temporary and permanent fencing can assist in the movement of animals to designated areas. Before building new barns or facilities, carefully think through and plan the many uses and purposes of the facility. Helpful references for livestock owners include Housing and Equipment Handbooks by Midwest Plan Service, county Soil Survey books, and WSU Cooperative Extension bulletins. Agency personnel that may be able to offer assistance include WSU Cooperative Extension Agents, Natural Resource Conservation Service District Conservationist, and your local Conservation District.

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