Livestock Waste Management

Practical Solution

The “How To”

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides a large and diverse amount of information for people to properly dispose of animal waste products, as well as a manure and nutrient management program.

The University of Missouri-Extension publishes a guide to Beef manure Management Systems in Missouri. They describe the traditional forms of waste disposal and then discuss newer, less harmful forms that both comply with the law and provide vital nutrients for fertilizer.

The University of Missouri-Extension also provides a website with information for Missouri's dairy producers. This site provides a long list of helpful links to topics, including general resources, permitting and regulations, site evaluation, soils and manure testing, best management practices, shelterbelts/windbreaks, economics, handling and storage, managing animal mortalities, records and inspection, and biogas production.

Planning & Zoning

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources provides multiple services for animal waste reduction under their soil and water conservation program. Under each service they provide a link to the state statute that regulates the waste disposal.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture runs the Livestock Management Facilities Program. It sets out the policies for where livestock facilities can be built and how the waste must be disposed of.

Dollars & Cents

The University of Missouri Extension published a manual called “Economic Considerations for Beef Manure Management Systems.” The report lays out various tables which compare and contrast the monetary and environmental benefits of three systems: slurry, solid, and lagoon-gutter flush.

Measuring Success

The Environmental Protection Agency, in conjunction with the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory put together A Manual on Evaluation and Economic Analysis of Livestock Waste Systems. The purpose of this manual is to “describe and evaluate alternative systems and/or technologies currently used to handle wastes from livestock facilities of less than 1000 animal units. The systems are evaluated with regard to controlling water pollution and odor nuisance. An economic analysis of alternative livestock waste management systems for dairy, beef, swine, sheep and poultry facilities is provided.”