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Scientists Study Manure Piles
Published Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 04:56 AM
A pilot study by the Agricultural Research Service reveals that composting beef cattle manure, even with minimal management, can reduce the concentrations of antibiotics in the manure by as much as 99 percent. The researchers found that by adding straw to manure piles tends to result in higher temperatures that speed up the process of degrading antibiotics as well as pathogens.

Oxytetracycline and chlorotetracycline concentrations in samples incubated for 28 days within an amended manure pile decreased 91 percent and 99 percent, respectively. Although manure piles amended with straw attained higher temperatures and more rapid decreases in antibiotic concentrations, there is currently no compelling justification for producers to expend additional resources needed to achieve the more rapid rates of antibiotic removal.

The use of antibiotics as therapeutic agents is widespread in the animal production industry. Scientific studies have shown that, depending on the antibiotic and type of animal, between 20 to 75 percent of antibiotics administered to animals is excreted via urine and feces. So it's important that these residues are broken down during composting to prevent their release into the environment.

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