A compacted manure layer should be maintained on an earthen open lot surface to retard infiltration and denitrify nitrate. Any adjacent concrete areas should be curbed to keep runoff from flowing off the edges of the concrete onto the earthen area. If porous soil or fractured bedrock are close to the surface where your livestock yard is located, the surface should be paved. In addition to the condition of livestock yards, your animal waste management plan should consider storing waste for use as fertilizer. Using manure as fertilizer on improved pastures removes accumulated nutrients through the cropping system.
Animal waste is a valuable fertilizer and soil conditioner.
When managed properly, the nutrients in manure can be substituted for commercial fertilizers while saving money and protecting ground and surface water. Matching nutrient applications to crop nutrient needs is critical. Do not over-apply manure to land. Have your soil, manure and effluent tested so you can determine the proper amount to apply. In active feedlots or yards, the layer of organic matter and soil at the surface lies over compacted soil, forming a layer through which water moves very slowly.