Fresh poultry manure

Fresh poultry manure contains 20-23% dry matter. As such this manure cannot be applied by means of the generally available manure-spreading equipment. For that reason water is often added in many enterprises. The diluted manure is stored in cellars or silos and, with the aid of good mixing equipment, the manure can be pumped out of the cellar and spread over the land. 

Campylobacter jejuni is a normal commensal of the gastrointestinal tract of poultry, pigs, and cattle. In a 12-month abattoir study, Milnes et al. (2007) determined the fecal carriage of thermophilic Campylobacter to be 54.6% in cattle, 43.8% in sheep, and 69.3% in swine. Hutchison et al. (2004) isolated Campylobacter from 13% of fresh cattle manure, 14% of swine manure, 19% of fresh poultry manure, and 21% of fresh sheep manure levels in stored manure were significantly lower. Human carriers also represent significant vehicle by which the pathogen can be transferred to foods. 

Fresh poultry manure from battery cages or from slatted or wire floors is free from litter. It is semi-solid, but rather sticky and, to reduce aity public nuisance from smell, it should be spread as soon as possible. To reduce nitrogen losses, the preferred time is in spring and sunrmer. Application rates are sinrilar to those for farmyard ntaniue. Copper and zinc toxicity could be a problem if very high rates of fresh poultry manure are made. 

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