Qu re collecting manure from pastures

[Julles]

Twice a year I go to an outdoor antiques fair, and the parking lot is a farmer's field full of cow pies.  They are in varying stages of "freshness" and decomposition.

I was thinking that next time, I might bring a galvanized tub and collect some of those pies. 

Would those work for fertilizing the garden?  Would they have to compost for a while?  Can you top dress, or would the manure have to be dug into the soil?

[Kittyzee]

I have cow pies galore in the pasture and even though they look "dry", that can be deceiving....they look crusty on the outside but warm and oozy in the middle--just like a pie!    

Anyway, I have never added uncomposted cow manure to my garden, it needs to "break down" for a while.  It could burn plants and more importantly who wants fresh poop of any kind in your garden.  I am always "pinging" my cats out of the garden with my bb gun when they dig out my new rows of seeds to go to the bathroom.  I don't like the idea of digging in that crap. 

Get your bucket of pies and throw them in a corner somewhere or a compost bin and let them break down, mix them with leaves and grass, THEN put them in whatever you want to fertilize.   

[Sunbeam56]

Hey Julles - come down and we'll set you up with cow pies and horse apples. 

[Joyce]

I agree. Crispy outside, runny, sticky and warm inside like fresh baked pie. 
I collected Bison Patties and they were almost a bushel each. Holy sh!t! 
Couldn't get 'em home cuz the stench was so bad. Stop and dumped them. 
This is back when I had the PT Cruiser.

[reddad35]

I can't help with the amount of time for the breakdown but I remember helping a friend as a teenager clean the feeder barn. I was nervous about it but it was rock hard. First shovel and 1 inch down to the bottom was mush. 75 dry heaves later my friend asked if I wanted to take the tractor and rake the hay. I said sure if you insist. Might have had 2 or three dry heaves in that last sentence.

Not enough windows in a PT cruiser to get that load home Joyce. Maybe a convertible but then you might not make it..   

[tootsie]

Ugh, not too many fond memories of horse balls and cow manure! Just remembering the vist to Uncle Arts farm in Canada.I fell face first into those horrid piles of cow crap! Of course in my best dress and shoes!! Geesh, a person could break a leg trying to walk thru those cow and horse pastures

[PondmaninAL]

Joyce, maybe you should of tried one of those pine tree deodorizers.

[Sunbeam56]

Aww... the warm earthy smell is not so bad.
And a good hard rain, it all disappears into the next grass growth. 

[JimMcD in SVAZ]

I heard somewhere that composted manure doesn't stink.  That seems not to be totally true, but it sure stinks less than fresh poop.

Be well, be safe,
McD