Swine Waste - Low-cost Alternative to Commercial Fertilizer for Production of Forage for Grazing Cattle

Swine Waste - Low-cost Alternative to Commercial Fertilizer for Production of Forage for Grazing Cattle

Summary

Swine production is a major agricultural enterprise in North Carolina and the southeastern United States. Swine waste is traditionally applied to land without regard to nutrient availability or environmental impacts. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of farms on which animals are concentrated and waste is produced year-round. Land for waste disposal must be integrated into an efficient and environmentally sound waste management system. Hog farming operations may be enhanced by including a cattle grazing component, resulting in efficient forage use and additional revenue to farms.

This proposal contains a systems approach to improving agricultural profitability and maintaining environmental quality. A swine waste management-cattle grazing system is being evaluated for its impacts on farm purchased fertilizer needs, on forage quantity and quality, on soil productivity, on animal health and performance, and on environmental quality.

Swine waste management - cattle grazing systems were monitored on two farms and one experiment station in North Carolina during 1992. Controlled, rotational grazing of stocker cattle was carried out on one acre paddocks of bermudagrass. All fertilizer supplied was from the liquid swine waste through a solid set irrigation system. Returns to management, labor and capital have ranged between $300 to $800 per acre during the past five years. Haying management was also introduced into the system to reduce N accumulation which could pose a potential ground water concern.

Objectives

(1) Implement the system on at least two farms where interactions of low-input grass production and controlled, rotational grazing will be monitored.

(2) Monitor groundwater, soil and plant nutrient status as influenced by waste water application.

(3) Develop and document a budget model that considers nitrogen applied, evaporated, unavailable, and recovered in animal weight gain.

(4) Generate producer and public support for implementing the system at additional sites.

(5) Develop educational materials and training programs for use by educational professionals and farmers in implementing the system.