Numbers of fecal streptococci and Escherichia coli in fresh and dry cattle, horse, and sheep manure.

This research paper involves the study of bacterial counts in fresh and dried livestock manure. The focus is on two types of bacteria, fecal streptococci and Escherichia coli (E. coli), in manure from cattle, horses, and sheep. The findings will assist in managing bacterial contamination in water bodies from livestock activities.

Objective of the Research

• This study aims to understand the presence and count of two types of bacteria, fecal streptococci and E. coli, in livestock manure. The livestock in question are cattle, horses, and sheep from farms in southern Idaho.
• The research is in response to requirements for understanding the bacterial loading into streams, aiding efforts made towards bacterial source tracking, and determining the maximum daily bacterial loading of water bodies.

Main Findings

• It was found that bacterial count in dried manure was just as high compared to fresh manure for both horse and sheep.
• A significant decrease, approximately by 2 log10, in the E. coli population was observed when comparing fresh cattle manure to dried manure from pastured cattle. However, this decrease was not recorded in the manure from cattle housed in pens.

Implication of the Research

• The results indicate that both fresh and dried manure should be considered when conducting bacterial source tracking. This is based on the observation that bacterial populations remained high in dried manure.
• The study suggests that the type of livestock and how they are housed can influence the bacterial population in manure, highlighting the significance of these factors in managing bacterial contamination in the environment.

Conclusion

• The research contributes to the broader efforts of pollution management by enhancing knowledge on bacterial loading into streams from livestock activity.
• The insight can improve practices and guidelines around manure management and livestock penning to mitigate contamination risks.