"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
The message
from "FarmI" ask@itshall be given contains these words:

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
from Sacha contains these words:

(snip) what flitted through my mind is how
very careful some people are about not using animal manure that
contains veterinary medicines.

Many veterinary medicines used on herbivores, are intended to kill
insect parasites, including intestinal worms in the colon. Faeces
containing active ingredients
could possibly reach and kill beneficial worms, insects and organisms
in a compost heap.

Interesting point. I use masses of horse manure in my garden (fresh and
uncomposted) and have never asked the owner of the horses about her
vermicide use. It's never bothered me and certainly doesn't seem to
bother
the worms who seem to respond very positively in both increasing
numbers and
size by the application of masses of the stuff.

One manure I use (horse) is well aged before it gets here, and then
either, spread around non-food
plants, or added to the compost heaps (used on food crops) By the time
we turn or empty compost heaps they are full of worms
and there are plenty in the garden soil

I've often wondered if the 'ban' on using manure in gardens because of
vermicides is just an urban myth

AFAIK, the only "ban" on using animal manures is by vegans.

By 'ban' I meant the much repeated comment that horse manure kills earth
worms because of the vermicide. I can't say I've ever observed this, rather
the reverse - worms seem to love the stuff and as don't even seem to have
problems with it very fresh.

given that intestinal worms and earth worms
would be two different species. I found this site which gives some info:
http://santacruzwire.com/index.php/m...c-gardens.html
(specifically about Ivermectin)

Interesting site.

but would like to know for sure now the subject has been raised. Would
one
of your vet contacts know for sure?

I'll ask how frequently horses are recommended to be wormed *in this
country*; (but that may not apply
in others. Different continents and climates support different nematode
parasites/animal health risks) .

I wasn't clear in what I was asking. What I'd really like to know, is if
earth worms (which are a different species to intestinal worms) would be
killed by vermicides. Some 'poisons' will kill some species but not all.