Manure Transfers
Manure -- and lots of it -- it is the inevitable by-product of keeping horses.
And, when mixed with bedding, we're suddenly looking at a large volume of
waste and a potential source for odor, flies, vermin and contaminated run-off.
Most towns, and even rural areas, no longer permit spreading -- and no one
should put fresh manure and shavings onto a pasture or paddock before it's
been composted. It's too acidic for the grass in its raw form, and there's the
potential for increasing the parasite load on the field.
So, as good stewards of our horses and our land, we have to plan for handling
the waste in an efficient and responsible way . . .
Manure Transfer
This is a great solution for those with limited land or limited time to manage
a composting facility.
And, with the increased interest in composting, nearly all areas have at least
one company with a manure dumpster service. These companies deliver an
empty dumpster and pick-up the full ones -- the manure and bedding is then
transferred to their site where it is composted and becomes a rich product
that is perfect for improving lawns, gardens, paddocks and pastures.
King has designed a variety of manure transfer buildings, in various sizes
and price ranges . . .
For instance, yours can be designed to complement the other buildings on your
farm, like the one pictured below:
This multi-purpose building has a transfer station that houses two (2) 40 cu yd dumpsters,
one in each of the covered end sections; the end sections are below grade for ease of dumping
The center section is at grade with a gentle slope -- it allows horses to be loaded onto
commercial vans without any ramping.
The building has cedar siding, cedar louvers and a 50 year architectural shingle roof
Or you may prefer something very economical, such as the one pictured below:
This transfer station will house one (1) 40 cu yd dumpster - the cleaners access the dumpster
via the sliding doors on the front side of the building, and the dumpster sits below grade.
The service truck accesses the dumpster from the garage door on the lower level.
This building has metal siding, a metal roof, cedar sliding doors on the front side and a metal
garage door on one end (lower level).
Whenever possible, we construct the manure transfer building so the dumpster
will sit below grade. This eliminates the need for ramping and makes it much
easier to unload the manure from wheelbarrows or dump carts as the stalls
are cleaned.
The building pictured above is very economical to build and convenient to use.
And, because the dumpster is fully enclosed, there are no problems with
odors, flies, rodents, or with run-off.
Composting Facility
If you have enough land to locate a composting facility on your farm, we can
build one for you. . .
Typically, this structure has a pavilion-style roof and at least three large
composting bins. These can be made from pressure treated wood, concrete
block or poured concrete walls.
They should have a concrete floor, which will make it easier to turn the compost
with a tractor and bucket loader, or you can install an aeration system.
Like the manure transfer building, unloading the manure and bedding is easier
if the composting bins are below grade, but it will work either way.
In addition to ending your manure problems, the composting facility will yield
a valuable product that will improve your paddocks and pastures. Compost has
nutrients, helps to aerate the soil and increases the topsoil in rocky areas.
