Ever heard someone say “smells like money,” when referring to the smell of cow manure? Others may just crinkle their nose at the smell. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists say the two different reactions are spurred by three main compounds that make up two-thirds of manure odors.
Two of the compounds, isovaleric acid and butyric acid, are volatile fatty acids produced during manure decomposition. The third is 4-methulphnol, an aromic compound. The combination of the three can create a powerful punch, reports Drovers CattleNetwork.
Cattle feedlot operators’ major concern is manure disposal and, fortunately, farmers may be the answer. Farmers can reduce their use of commercial fertilizer and production costs by using manure to fertilize their fields. ARS researchers found tilling manure into the ground and irrigating is the most effective way to reduce manure odors.
“Our results basically confirm that producers who want to use beef manure to improve soil quality can incorporate it into the soil to reduce odors and maintain nutrients,” ARS agricultural engineer Bryan Woodbury says.