BACTERIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE DISPOSAL OF MANURE FROM BEEF CATTLE

Manure, collected from cattle housed in yards, was spread on experimental plots at the rate of 120 tonnes per hectare per annum. The manure was applied to 2 plots at 6-monthly intervals while a further 2 plots received monthly applications. Samples of manure soil, run-off and ground waters were examined for their counts of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, faecal coliforms and for the presence of salmonellae. Comparison of the bacterial counts from samples from the test plots to those of the control plots showed that no change occurred in the levels of coliforms or faecal coliforms over the 3 years of manure application. One hundred and fifty-seven isolations of salmonella were made from the soil and water samples, but only 51 could be attributed to the manure. No difference was observed in the effects of different application frequencies.