Topic: Cow manure v pig manure

[RobinOfTheHood]

As I live close to both a pig farm and a cattle farm I have access to both types of manure.
BUT I don't know which to use? Would anyone care to tell me the relative merits of the 2 types before I, er put my order in?  ???

My soil is heavy clay, if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance.  :)

[bunjies]

cow manure smells better! ;D

[shirlton]

I would agree. We had some pig manure years ago and I swore I would never use it again the smell is really awful and besides that we got curly carrots  ;D

[Curryandchips]

The problem with manure, is that the smell seems to stick, so other people notice. Based on that, pig manure is a definite no no :D

[supersprout]

Lucky robinoth, what a dilemma 8) Do both have straw in? Whichever hath most straw should be better for clay? ::)

[MikeB]

Robinetc,
I've been unable to find the reference, but the order given for manure is

Cow
Chicken
Horse
Hops
Pig
Rabbit
Goat

e.g. cow is best, followed by chicken etc.

If I ever find the ref. I'll post it.

[Kepouros]

Pig manure is cold and heavy - possibly the worst one to use on heavy clay soils.  Go for the cow manure which will help lighten the clay.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Pig is usually full of nasty additives from the stuff they give them. It's also an unclean beast! Go for the cow poo.

[RobinOfTheHood]

Thanks, sounds as if cow is the one to go for. Not worried about the smell of pig muck, we're close enough to the farm for it to smell here much of the time regardless...but if cow muck is better for clay, cow muck it shall be. :)

It'll give me an excuse to take the kids to the farm so that they can climb all over the bales, anyway..... ;)

[saddad]

I'd go for Cow because of the associated bedding straw... and if you can scrounge a couple of Bales for the kids to play on.... it makes great mulch when they have destroyed them!
 ;D

[keef]

What about sheep sh*t ? Theres a guy our allotment who uses it all the time. I think he leave's it for a few month's before digging in - but by the look of his tomatoes this year i think it works well. It is very hard to get hold of though.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Any herbivore crap is usable, the only trouble with sheep is that they spend most of their time out in the fields, so as you say, it's hard to come by.

[saddad]

As a lad I would have been able to find you loads... when we brought them in off the moors for dipping etc the pens were soon ankle deep in the stuff!
 ;D