2^3 



Two factors were responsible for this problem. First, the laborers 

 prided themselves in doing a thorough job of removing all the visible 

 manure plus a little more. Second, the poultryman refused to monitor 

 the activities of the laborers and insist that manure be removed only 

 to the level that he specified. As an observer, I could only make 

 suggestions that often went unheeded. 

 Tilling Reduces Manure Volume and the Number of Clean-Outs Per Year 



Poultrymen are currently cleaning out manure three times during the 

 15-month period that a flock is housed. However, regular use of a til- 

 ler has reduced clean-outs on some north Florida poultry farms to two 

 per 15-mcnth period. The present cost of cleaning out a poultry house 

 is S3. 28 per m, or $300 for a 91.4 m house. Reduction in the number 

 of clean-outs per flock by one third would save the owner of the tilling 

 s i te $ 1200 per year. 



This savings is increased when one considers the value of the manure 

 as a fertilizer (Hinton, 1977)- In 1976, farms in the Tampa area were 

 selling rotovated manure for $10 per ton and attempts were being made 

 to increase the interest of the citrus industry in this readily available 

 product. 



Rotovated manure can be spread on fields or sold in bags for ferti- 

 lizer without further drying. In this form, the manure is unattractive 

 to flies and does not burn plants or pastures (C. F. Hinton, personal 

 Qommun'icatiori) . 

 Tiller-Related Costs and Returns 



Initial cost of purchasing a tiller is high but operational costs 

 are low. Selpat sells the tiller and the modified Kuboda as a unit, 



