The proper handling of poultry manure has again been an issue this autumn, with a number of botulism cases reported. This is a real issue for tillage farmers for whom poultry manure is a valuable source of nutrient and organic matter.

Looking through some of the guidelines on the handling of poultry manure issued by the Department, perhaps the most important pointer is the one that appears at the top of the list in the Good Farming Practice publication.

This advises that farmers “only accept litter from poultry farmers who have adequate systems in place to ensure all poultry carcases are removed from houses, stored and disposed of according to good practice”.

This issue is very much at the centre of the current problems.

Guidelines

The Use and Disposal of Poultry Litter – Legal Obligations and Good Practice Guidelines for Poultry Litter Hauliers, clearly states that there is an obligation on the haulier to inspect the material in advance of loading to ensure that there are no bird carcases present.

If dead bird material is found prior to loading, during loading or during unloading, the haulier is obliged to either not load, unload if unwanted material is found post-loading, or reload if carcases are found during or after a load is tipped.

The land-spreading of poultry manure that contains carcases is forbidden and such material can only be disposed of in:

  • DAFM/EPA-approved incineration plant.
  • DAFM-approved Category 1 rendering plant.

    • If poultry litter for land-spreading did not contain carcases, we should not have an issue with botulism. This is an especially important issue for broiler litter, as distinct from layers manure, but a problem with either will make it more difficult to get tillage farmers to use these materials.

    The advice provided in the Good Farming Practice (below) is intended to reduce the risk of disease in animals.

    Good Farming Practice: Spreading of Poultry Litter on land

  • Only accept litter from poultry farmers who have adequate systems in place to ensure all poultry carcases are removed from houses, stored and disposed of according to good practice.
  • Vehicles used for the transportation of animal fodder should not be used for the transportation of poultry litter or any other waste material including chicken carcase material.
  • Sites for litter stacks must be on dry ground, vermin proof and remote from all water sources and proximity to livestock (including on neighbouring farms).
  • Animals should not be grazed on lands on which poultry litter has been spread.
  • Do not spread poultry litter that contains poultry carcases or parts of carcases, do not chop litter and check lands thoroughly immediately after spreading to ensure the pasture is carcase-free. Remove all offending material. Where possible, plough litter into land immediately after spreading.
  • Where possible, litter should only be spread on tillage land and immediately ploughed in. Again, check tillage land thoroughly to ensure land is carcase-free.
  • Where litter is ploughed into land, keep dust to a minimum and ensure that there are no grazing animals in adjacent fields.
  • Do not use land for grazing livestock.
  • Avoid spreading and stockpiling litter in warm weather.
  • There should be a three-year interval between land spreading of litter.
  • Do not make silage from lands where litter has been spread.
  • There are disease risks for animal and man associated with handling of and contact with poultry litter. Therefore, care must be exercised at all times and any unnecessary contact should be avoided.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after handling litter.
  • Avoid spreading near waterways and comply with the recommended level of animal manure for land spreading.

    • Uncertainties

    These pointers provide reasonable guidelines for users. But more clarity is needed as to whether litter can be tipped in fields ahead of spreading or whether this material should be covered on arrival.

    The advice to plough immediately is to help bury any risk and this also minimise nitrogen loss. But perhaps the emphasis should be on good incorporation. A plough operated at speed trying to keep up with a spreader is likely to do poor skimming and throw material back on top of ploughed land to expose the risk.

    The overriding message must be to do everything possible at producer, haulier and user level to avoid having carcases in litter to be spread on land.