In article ,
brooklyn1 wrote:
"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message
news:iP6dnZNfUIW_c8DXnZ2dnUVZ8ridnZ2d@brightview. co.uk...

The thing is this. The bins are 4'x3'x3' and I just do not have the
energy or strength to turn them. So , in effect they are cold compost
heaps. I let the contents rot down over a 2 year period.

But is there a danger that the pathogens in the horse dung will not die
off (as they would if I were operating a hot heap) and that my family
could become seriously ill if I use this composted material on my
vegetable plot even if it is 2 years old?

There is no concern with pathogens with manure from vegetarian beasts except
perhaps if you know the beast to be ill with a disease transmittable to
humans. In your case I'd be more concerned with viable weed seeds.

That is essentially true. There are very few diseases with sufficiently
resistant spores that they will survive any form of composting, and most
of those are extremely implausible. None will contaminate vegetables,
anyway, and the only risk is getting the compost into a cut, eating it
if you don't wash it off, etc.

The only ones that are at all likely are carried by cats and other
carnivores, as you say. Worrying about tetanus and anthrax is not a
productive activity ....


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.