Auction Barn Fertilizer?

[bvar22]

Our local auction barn piles the cattle/goat manure outside, free for the taking.
I am certain that many (all) of the animals processed at this site have been fed antibiotics, hormones, and god knows what else.

Are these chemicals present in the manure?

Can this manure be safely used in an organic vegetable garden?

[sazemisery]

1. Compost it then use it...

I asked my son the same question about chicken poop and his answer was "Unfortunately for humans, animals retain all the bad things we pump into them." I use composted chicken litter on my organic veggie garden. The best thing for tomatoes.

[AlecBGreen]

2. yeah, compost it

a proper compost piles gets up over 150 F which will denature some of the chemicals. All the little critters (bacteria) can help break them down too. Apply the finished compost to plants. I magine some of the chemicals will persist and be taken up by the plants.

[LWolf]

3. If wouldn't use it at all.

I don't think even a hot compost pile will get rid of some of what those animals might have eaten.

Instead, find someone local who keeps animals and would be happy for you to pick up their manure. I have massive mounds of old goat manure and bedding, and newer piles of horse manure. Way more than I could ever possibly use, and, in my area, I will end up PAYING someone to come get it.

My animals are hormone and anti-biotic free. So are many small homesteaders'.

[susanna]

4. That's what I look for.

Smaller homesteaders/dairy/egg operators who have gone all natural (no antibiotics or hormones).

I have a small vegetable garden in the city and trade vegetables for manure from a rural gentleman who has a small organic chicken farm. Oh yeah, I get eggs too. :-)