MANURIAL VALUE OF FEEDING STUFFS 281 



Annual yield of fertilizing constituents per 1,000 Ibs. live weight 



Nitrogen Phosphoric acid Potash Value of manure 



Lbs. Lbe. Lbe. Dollars 



Horse., 128 43 103 30.70 



Cow 156 38 127 36 .51 



Sheep.. 119 44 126 30.94 



Pig 150 104 128 40.24 



The last column shows the total value of the manure produced annually, 

 computed at the prices previously given, and assuming that 20 per ct. of 

 the nitrogen is unavoidably lost. (432) 



442. Losses in farm manures.* From the foregoing it is evident that 

 farm manure is one of the mx>st valuable products of the farm. Yet 

 many farmers who freely purchase commercial fertilizers allow much 

 of the value of the manure produced by their live stock to be washed away 

 in streams or otherwise dissipated. It is' most important to realize that 

 manure is a perishable product, and that unless proper care is taken 

 over half its value may be lost. Plant food may be wasted thru: (1) 

 Loss of urine, (2) loss by leaching, (3) loss of nitrogen by fermentation. 



The importance of bedding to absorb the urine is shown in the follow- 

 ing table from Van Slyke : 13 



Proportion of fertilizing constituents in urine and feces of farm animals 



Nitrogen in Phosphoric acid in Potash in 



Urine Feces 



Per ct. Per ct. 



44 56 



85 15 



70 30 



43 57 



Average. ..43 57 4 96 60 40 



With the cow and sheep about half the nitrogen is voided in the 

 urine; with the horse and pig somewhat less. Most of the phosphoric 

 acid is excreted in the feces. The cow voids about 85 per ct. and the 

 sheep 70 per ct. of the potash in the urine; the horse and pig over 40 

 per ct. For all farm animals, 43 per ct. of the nitrogen and 60 per ct. 

 of the potash passes in the urine. Pound for pound, the urine has a 

 greater fertilizing value than the feces, except with the pig. The fer- 

 tility in urine is also in solution and hence much more readily available 

 to plants than that in the feces. 



A manure pile under the eaves, against the side of the barn, or manure 

 lying for months in an open barn yard is a sight all too common on 

 American farms. When manure is exposed to the leaching action of 

 the rains, the losses are great, even amounting to half of the total 



is Fertilizers and Crops, p. 295. 



"This discussion of the losses in manure and the care of this valuable farm 

 product is necessarily very brief. For more complete information consult the 

 standard works on Soils and Agricultural Chemistry. 



