In article
,
Davej wrote:

I have always heard that cow manure is vastly better for gardening
than horse manure, but I do have a neighbor with a horse. What if I
composted the horse manure and allowed it to age for a year or two
before use?

http://www.plantea.com/manuer.htm

How common manures measure up
Manure Chicken Diary cow Horse Steer Rabbit
N 1.1 .257 .70 .70 2.4

P .80 .15 .30 .30 1.4

K .50 .25 .60 .40 .60

Manure Sheep Alfalfa Fish Emulsion
N .70 3 5

P .30 1 1

K .90 2 1

Sources: Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, An
Illustrated Guide to
Organic Gardening, by Sunset Publishing, and the Rodale Guide to
Composting.

Note: Nutrient values of manures vary greatly, depending on the diet and
age of the animals, and the nature and quantiy of bedding in the mix.


Chicken manure
Poultry manure (chicken in particular) is the richest animal manure in
N-P-K. Chicken manure is considered "hot" and must be composted before
adding it to the garden. Otherwise, it will burn any plants it comes in
contact with.

Dairy (cow) manure
"Dairy Manure may be the single most useful soil-builder around," says
Ann Lovejoy, lifetime organic gardener and writer in Seattle,
Washington. "Washed dairy manure from healthy cows is just about perfect
for garden use; it can be used as a topdressing and for soil
improvement," she adds. Dairy manure is preferable to steer manure,
which has a higher salt and weed seed content. Though cow manure has low
nutrient numbers, that's what makes ist safe to use in unlimited
quantities.


Horse manure
Horse manure is about half as rich as chicken manure, but richer in
nitrogen than cow manure. And, like chicken droppings, it's considered
"hot". Horse manure often contains a lot of weed seeds, which means it's
a good idea to compost it using a hot composting method.

Steer manure
Steer manure is one of the old standbys, but it's not the most beloved
because it often contains unwanted salts and weed seeds.
--

Billy

E Pluribus Unum

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, 16 April 1953

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.