VPE 511: Environment and Environmental Hygiene (2+1)

TURNING OVER THE SURFACE

• The basic principle of both this and the close packening method is the utilization of  the natural heat which is generated in fermenting manure  for the purpose of destroying the eggs, larvae and pupae of flies and the eggs and larvae of round worms normally present in the dung of farm livestock. A well packed stock of horse manure becomes very hot after a interval of manure becomes very hot after or interval of from one to three days. The temperature attained vary at different depths, at 2.5 cm below the surface the heat regenerated may lie between 30-36⁰c at 10 cm below the surface it will range between, 63-69⁰C, at 15 cm depth it will commonly be about 70⁰C whilst, at a depth of 25 cm it will be about 71⁰C.
• In general a temperature level that will destroy the strongyles of horses will also destroy almost any of the related parasites of other livestock, as equine red worms are amongst the most hardy of the nematodes so far as resistance and viability of the larvae and concerned. As a rule sufficient heat will be generated by fermentation in a tightly packed stock of horse manure to kill during the first three days all fly larvae and worm eggs one larvae buried at a depth of 15 cm below the surface.
• Atmospheric warmth combine with moisture accelerates the temperature of organic manure whereas dry heat or cold retard it. Finally it must be noted that whilst the lethal effect of the heat generated in fermenting manure is undoubtly great, the killing of eggs and larvae is not occurred by this means alone, gases liberated during the decomposition of dung also exert considerable toxic action or these stages.
• It would appear, then that a surface method of dealing with fresh manure so as to free it from these free living forms of parasitic life is to bury it in a mass which is already undergoing fermentation fresh manure instead of being thrown or to the surface of the stock should be buried at a depth which ensures a surrounding temperature high enough to prevent eggs hatching and to kill any larvae that may be present. The outside layer at the stock must be buried periodically in a similar fashion. The procedure outlived here is the essence of the turning over the surface method which it must be recognized entails a degree of labour one of intelligent.