Managing manure for sustainable livestock production in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Abstract

Manure presents one of the greatest challenges to livestock (dairy and beef cattle, swine, poultry, equine, sheep, llamas, etc.) operations in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, serving both as resource and liability. The Chesapeake Bay is threatened by excessive nutrient loadings, and, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), manure is the source of 18% of the nitrogen and 27% of the phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay annually (figure 1) (Chesapeake Bay Program 2010). Developing economical, practical, and effective manure management options for livestock producers will not only contribute to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, but will also provide a model for other areas where water quality and livestock production objectives must be balanced.