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    Reducing the Risk of Surface and GroundWater Contamination byImproving Livestock YardsManagementJanuary 2000 Utah Farm •A•Syst - Fact Sheet #8In addition to reducing the potential of livestock yards to pollute surface and ground water, other goodreasons for improving management practices include improved herd health, ease of maintenance andquality milk or meat production.1. Distance from surface water or wellWells should be located in an elevated area upslope of the livestock yard, so that runoff will not draininto the vicinity of the well. Utah code does not specify a minimum separation distance betweenexisting livestock yards and private wells, but they should be located as far apart as possible. Withgood farmstead planning, livestock facilities would be 300-400 feet from the house. Since the well isoften near the house, it is likely that there would be more than 200 feet between the well and thelivestock yard.If irrigation ditches, canals or streams are near the livestock yard, contamination potential to surfacewaters can be high, especially if the land slopes toward the water source or is in close proximity to it.Runoff should be controlled so that it does not enter into a surface water source or well.2. Site characteristicsSurface and ground water protection is a major consideration in siting a livestock yard, with soilcharacteristics being the most important factor. Important soil features include surface and subsoiltexture, soil depth, permeability and drainage class. The best site has a deep clay soil. Next would be awell-drained silt loam/clay loam soil with low permeability. A very poor site has shallow soil, or a highwater table, or a very sandy/gravelly soil with excessive drainage and high permeability. (For moreassistance in assessing site’s vulnerability to ground water contamination, see Worksheet # 9, SiteEvaluation.)For existing livestock yards on poor sites, the best options for protecting ground water might beeliminating the yard and using total confinement for the livestock or providing paved yards and liquid-tight basins to store yard runoff.FARM •A• SYSTFarmstead Assessment System  For glossary, see page 2 of Worksheet # 8Utah Farm•A•Syst Fact Sheet #8 Page 23. Clean water diversionOne way of reducing pollution from livestock yards is to construct and maintain structures to reduce theamount of clean water entering the yard. •Waterways, small terraces and roof gutters can be used to direct water away from livestockyards. •An earthen ridge or terrace can be constructed across the slope upgrade from a livestock yardto prevent runoff from entering the yard. •In some areas, if a diversion terrace is not practical, a catch basin with a tile outlet could beinstalled above the livestock yard. 4. Runoff control systemsA livestock yard without a runoff control system typically has an earthen surface compacted by animaltraffic. This surface is not shaped for water drainage, so it is sometimes dry and sometimes muddy.Manure typically accumulates on the surface, and decaying manure is mixed into the soil by animaltraffic.Water running off concrete pads located near barn doors and clean water from roofs and upslopeareas can flush manure from the yard.Such a yard is difficult to manage, and the absence of runoff controls may lead to water qualityproblems. Contaminated runoff from an active feedlot that accumulates in areas adjacent to thelot may percolate through the soil and threaten ground water quality or enter irrigation ditches,canals or streams. Ground water contamination risk is particularly high on sites with highinfiltration and percolation rates, such as sandy soils or other soils with good drainage. Surfacewater contamination risk is high on sites that are close to surface water and are steeper than3%.Runoff control systems can help to remedy such problem situations. These systems collect livestockyard runoff, settle out manure solids and direct the remaining water to storage areas away fromstreams, ditches, waterways and areas of permeable soils and creviced bedrock. The collected runoffwater can be used for land application at a later time when conditions are favorable for preventingsurface or ground water contamination. 5. Yard cleaning or scrapingClean livestock yards regularly. The amount of manure which accumulates on a livestock yard dependsmainly on the number of animals and the hours per day animals spend on the lot. Cleaning andscraping at least once per week is preferable. Heavy concentrations of animals may require solidsremoval more often. Naturally, concrete surfaces are easier to clean than earthen lots. Earthen yardsare cleaned when dry, so solids may be removed less frequently.Utah Farm•A•Syst Fact Sheet #8 Page 36. Type of yard surfaceThe minimum area required per animal for reducing the risk of ground water contamination depends onthe type of lot surface. The amount of concrete surface area needed is much less than that required foran earthen lot. The concrete area needed is a balance between traffic on the lot and resting area provided for animals.Too large an area results in manure freezing to the surface for long periods, while too small an arearesults in animals having difficulty moving about.For dairy operations, the greatest protection for ground water is provided by confining animals to afree-stall barn or roofed yard. Where a yard is needed, 75 square feet of fenced concrete per cow isrecommended, or 400 square feet of earthen surface. If an exercise area is desired, it should provideroughly 2,000 square feet. Direct runoff water carefully from the concrete or the earthen area into astorage facility. Curbs should be used to keep runoff from flowing off the edges of the concrete lot whileditches may be sufficient for an earthen lot.Yard management involves considerations other than ground and surface water protection. Acombination of yard surfaces can offer the most flexibility in adapting to weather conditions. Livestocklocation can be chosen based on the amount of mud in the yard: on concrete in sloppy conditions, onan earthen surface in dry weather, and on a mound in intermediate conditions.The type of surface also affects management. Earthen yards, for example, might be cleaned only onceor twice per year.If bedrock or clean gravel or sands are close to the surface where your livestock yard is located, pavethe surface with concrete, or totally confine livestock.7. Livestock storage and manure utilizationIn addition to the condition of your livestock yards, your farm animal manure management plan shouldconsider manure storage and utilization. (Worksheet and Fact Sheet #7: Livestock Manure Storageand Utilization provide guidelines for minimizing impact on surface and ground water.)Animal manure can be a valuable nutrient source and soil conditioner. When managed properly, thenutrients in manure can be substituted for commercial fertilizers, saving money and protecting bothground water and surface water. Matching nutrient applications to crop nutrient needs is critical.8. Abandoned livestock yardsWith active feedlots or yards, the layer of organic matter mixed with soil at the surface lies overcompacted subsurface soil, forming a layer through which water moves very slowly. Therefore,leaching of nitrate and bacteria through the surface seal and compacted layers is not likely within thelivestock yard. If livestock yard runoff is discharged to permeable soils or bedrock, leaching may occur.Studies have found little nitrate in the soil of active feedlots.Nevertheless, abandoned yards can pose a significant risk of ground water contamination. As themanure pack breaks up from lack of use, water can leach through and reach ground water. If you have a permanently abandoned yard, dig it up, spread the manure and soil combination onfields, and refill the former yard with other material. Another option is to till and plant the yard to a high-Utah Farm•A•Syst Fact Sheet #8 Page 4nitrogen-using crop, which will consume most of the available nitrogen released by soil and the manuredecomposition process. It is also a good practice to remove manure from a feedlot that will not be usedfor an extended period. Otherwise, cracks developing in the surface may allow leaching of nitrates and other compounds.CONTACTS AND REFERENCESWho to call about . . .Design and technical standards for runoff control systems Your local office of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.Financial and technical assistance in remedying a risky situationYour local offices of the USDA Farm Service Agency and the USDA Natural Resources ConservationService.What to read about . . . Publications are available from sources listed at the end of the reference section. (Refer to number inparentheses after each publication.)Design criteria and general informationBeef Housing and Equipment Handbook. Midwest Plan Service. MWPS-6 (1)Sheep Housing and Equipment Handbook. Midwest Plan Service. MWPS-3. (1)Swine Housing and Equipment Handbook. Midwest Plan Service. MWPS-8. (1)Dairy Housing and Equipment Handbook. Midwest Plan Service. MWPS-7. (1)Livestock Waste Facilities Handbook. Midwest Plan Service. MWPS-18. (1)Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook. 1996. United States Department of AgricultureNatural Resources Conservation Service. (2)Publications available from...1. MidWest Plan Service, Ag and Biosystems, Engineering Extension, 207 Davidson Hall, Ames, IA 50011-3080. (515-294-6361. FAX (515-294-6361. Email: mwps@iastate.edu.2. Local offices of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServiceInternet sites . . .Utah NRCS Web Site: (http://www.ut.nres.usda.gov) USU Extension Water Quality Web Site: Farm A Syst and Home A Syst(http://www.ext.usu.edu/natres/wq/a-syst.htm)Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations(http://www.ag.state.ut.us/divisns/mkt&cons/cafo.htm)Utah Farm•A•Syst Fact Sheet #8 Page 5        Utah State University Extension is an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employer and educationalorganization. We offer our programs to persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability.        Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S.Department of Agriculture, Robert L. Gilliland, Vice-President and Director, Cooperative Extension Service, Utah State University,Logan, Utah. (EP/01-00/DF)Project Coordinated by Robert W. Hill, Utah State University. Written by Leonard Massie,Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of WisconsinExtension, Cooperative Extension. Adapted for use in Utah by an interagency team from materialsprepared by Gregg Hester and Jeff Jacobsen, Montana State University Extension Service and frommaterials developed at Kansas State University.Utah Farm •A•Syst Advisory Committee and Review Team:Mike Allred, Howard Deer, Kitt Farrell-Poe, John Harrison, Robert W. Hill, Rich Koenig, Nancy Mesner,Stephen E. Poe - Utah State University ExtensionKerry Goodrich - Natural Resources Conservation ServiceRoy Gunnell & Mark T. Novak - Division of Water Quality, Utah Department of Environmental QualityBob Lowe - Division of Drinking Water, Utah Department of Environmental QualityMark Quilter, W.D. Robinson, & Jay Roundy - Utah Department of Agriculture and FoodDean Maxwell - Utah Association of Conservation DistrictsThomas E. Bingham & Mark M. Petersen - Utah Farm BureauFunding provided by Utah State University Extension, Water Quality ProgramThe Farmstead Assessment System is a cooperative project of Utah State University Extension, UtahDepartment of Agriculture and Food, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Utah Farm Bureau,Utah Association of Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Reducing the Risk of Surface and Ground Water Contamination by Improving Livestock Yards Management

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Reducing the Risk of Surface and Ground Water Contamination by Improving Livestock Yards Management

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