[USCC] Manure

Tue Mar 13 08:22:44 CST 2007

Dear HKreher and Discussion Group:

I think previous commenters have indicated that a properly operated
composting system raises the temperature high enough to kill the larvae
and eggs of insects of concern. In fact, some have considered composting
piles or windrows to attract insects and prevent their reproduction.

If one does not manage the composting to reach normal composting
temperatures, the pile can be a breeding pile for flys. Aerated piles
have the advantage that the surface cover with finished compost does not
attract insects.

Another point raised was the possibility of growing fly larvae in manure
with recovery of the protein value. Several research groups showed this
could be done (in the 1970-1980s), but it was never cost effective. Eggs
were added to manure which was stirred and cooled as needed to keep from
killing the larvae as they grew. After growth of the larvae, the mixture
of larvae and manure was placed on a mesh and light caused the larvae to
crawl thru the screen and be scrapped off into the "product" pile.
Larvae were allowed to pupate to the dry pupae, which were used in
chicken feed. Fly larvae and pupae are high in good quality protein and
other nutrients.

I have seen others test other specific insect larvae, but in no case
have I heard of a cost-effective methods for treatment of manure. In the
model described here, the larvae treated manure was stabilized and less
malodorous than the fresh manure used to feed the larvae. Mr. Harry Eby
was the agricultural engineer that I knew who worked on this system. 

Obviously composting produces a valuable product more rapidly at low
cost, and was a wiser approach to treating manure to avoid the adverse
characteristics of raw manure.

Regards,

Rufus Chaney
Beltsville, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at composter.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at composter.com] On Behalf Of hkreher at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 9:25 AM
To: compost at composter.com
Subject: Re: [USCC] Manure

Participate in the Annual International Compost Awareness Week May  
6, 2007 to May 12, 2007

This year's theme is "The Possibilities are Endless ... Compost!"

For more info, go to: http://compostingcouncil.org/section.cfm?id=25

Or Call the USCC at 631-737-4931 

Well, how do you control them to keep from making a swarm of biblical
proportions?

Maybe if you were talking about a non flying insect it may be more
feasible.  Larvae will still crawl and thats all they have to do all day
so how do you keep them from "getting away."  Insects can do a lot of
damage (some beetles like to eat wood too) and cause a nuisance with
neighbors.

here is a quote from that website that you mentioned:

"Distribution - This fly occurs throughout most of the Western
Hemisphere and the Australian region from Samoa to Hawaii. In the
continental United States, it commonly breeds in outdoor toilets, poorly
managed compost and in poultry manure. "  (emphasis added.)

I think that flies are a composters enemy not his friend.  But I am open
to new ideas if you can prove that they work and that it is a better
system.

-----Original Message-----
From: yarrow at sfo.com
To: compost at composter.com
Sent: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: [USCC] Manure

Participate in the Annual International Compost Awareness Week May  
6, 2007 to May 12, 2007

This year's theme is "The Possibilities are Endless ... Compost!"

For more info, go to: http://compostingcouncil.org/section.cfm?id=25

Or Call the USCC at 631-737-4931 

See http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG369/notes/black_soldier_fly.html
for more info on this desirable composter. I learned about them when 
I saw the larvae escaping from my home compost bin one rainy October, 
and learned that they leave the bin to pupate. Someone on the 
gardenweb list who had worked with a manure-composting BSF larvae 
system said that

-- BSF and worms are often used together in coordinated manure 
management systems
-- BSF larvae process the raw manure, then earthworms convert the 
larvae manure into stable worm castings
-- BSF larvae can happily coexist with worms in a composting
environment,
-- BSF larvae create more moisture, which can lead to a drop in O2 
(which, in turn, can temporarily decrease the worm population)
-- BSF adults are repelled by anaerobic conditions, so do not lay eggs
there
-- BSF larvae can survive anaerobic conditions, but have lower 
activity than in aerobic conditions
-- BSF larvae decrease the presence of human pathogens in infected 
environments, so pose no threat to human health
-- a composting system that has significant numbers of BSF larvae 
will support no other fly species

I've seen a report by Warburton et al., "Performance comparison of 
earthworms and soldier fly larvae in the processing of sewage sludge."

Hal Kreher wrote:
>What kind of larvae are you talking about?  At our farm we are 
>composting our manure because the heat kills any fly larvae, pupae, 
>or eggs.  Fresh layer (poultry) manure is too strong for worms.  If 
>you used some kind of insect to "pretreat" you would have to a way 
>of seperating them back out from the product that needs to go on to 
>the next step.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: CAVM at aol.com
>Lowell, the residue after the larvae finish their work is excellent in 
>vermiculture. Some of the worm farmers we know actually use the larvae
to 
>pre-process their organic matter being fed to the worms for castings 
>production.
>They do this with no intention of harvesting the larvae for  their
value.
>
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Opinions expressed represent only the poster and are not necessarily the
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This month's sponsor is:

Cover-All Building Systems
The leading manufacturer of steel-framed, fabric membrane covered
structures available in clear-span widths of 18 to 160 feet. Visit
www.coverall.net to learn more or call 1.800.268.3768 to be connected
with your local dealer.

_______________________________________________

Ongoing Sponsors of the Compost Discussion List are:

Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN), a regulatory and policy
e-mail alert service for environmental, food and agricultural industry
professionals.
Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com

Renewable Carbon Management, LLC with the containerized, in-vessel
NaturTech Composting System www.composter.com rcm at composter.com

The US Composting Council (USCC) Non-members of USCC are encouraged to
join the Council through its website at:
http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm 

(c) Copyright 2006  - All rights reserved

Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses may have their
posting privelages suspended.

Opinions expressed represent only the poster and are not necessarily the
opinion or policy of any organization.

The Compost List is a service moderated by Jim McNelly of Renewable
Carbon Management, LLC.

For discussion list policies and information regarding subscribing,
unsubscribing, digest or other options, go
to:http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost

For additional help in unsubscribing or to report bugs and problems,
send a message to the Compost List Manager, Jim McNelly, at
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