Did you know where you position your muck heap can have a real effect on your horses’ worm burden?
A horse produces roughly 7.5 tonnes of manure EACH YEAR?! (And that’s not including bedding from stables etc!)
Storing it properly is really important!
Why does it matter where the muck heap is?
There are a few reasons why it matters and isn’t all about your horse’s health!
Mich heaps can also become very hot and self-ignite (catch fire) and are therefore a fire hazard.
So do think carefully about where you choose to dump your muck.
In addition to that
You also need to think about the immediate and wider environment.
💩 Larvae from worm eggs can travel up to 3 METRES from the muck heap! If the heap is close to your horse’s grazing they could ingest the eggs or larvae, leading to reinfection
💩 Muck attracts flies, which irritate your horse (and you!) and can spread diseases
💩 Water from the muck heap can run into waterways if placed too close to them and causes pollution. This can be a serious issue. For the environment and for you as water contamination is a prosecutable offence
💩 It can be unsightly (not to mention smelly!) to neighbours and the public, which could lead to complaints
Where should you put your muck heap?
Having a perfectly positioned muck heap isn’t always possible!
It should be as far away from your horse as possible but still accessible to you to add to it and vehicles to remove it.
💩 DON’T site your muck heap in the same field as your horse. If you have to have it in the same field, fence it off so your horse can’t graze near it. This will greatly reduce the risk of worm reinfection and fly irritation
💩 The Environment Agency recommends that “Temporary field heaps should be sited where there is no risk of runoff polluting watercourses. They should be at least 10 metres from a watercourse and 50 metres from a well, spring or borehole that supplies water for human consumption or for use in farm dairies.”
💩 A solid base, such as concrete, is the ideal place for your muck heap. It’s easier to keep tidy and for vehicles to access it for removal. If you can add high, solid sides around your muck heap that’s even better! It will contain the muck, rather than it spreading, and keep your yard tidy
How can you help it decompose faster?
Once you have your muck heap in place, you can help it to decompose faster by:
💩 Trampling on your muck heap reduces the volume
💩 Make sure you keep it tidy and pile new droppings on the top (it decomposes down)
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And that the only way to keep track of it for sure is to TEST regularly.
You can buy your test kits here and sign up for the EFECS Subscription Plan here.
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