Manure Production and Bedding Used Calculator

See Calculator Notes on Sheet 2

Bedding
Manure Manure No. of Days Total Total Bedding Total
Animal Animal No. of Bedding Used Total
Produced Produced Confined Manure in Manure Density Bedding
Type Weight Animals Type (lbs./day/ Volume
(lbs./day) (ft3/day) per Yr. (lbs./yr.) (ft3/Yr.) (lbs./ ft3) (ft3)
animal)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
See Calc. See Calc. See Table [(3)x(6)x(10)]
See Calc. notes (3) x (4) x (6) (3) x (5) x (6) (8) + (12)
notes notes Below (11)

Horse 1,000 45 1 0 0

Sheep 100 4 0.1 0 0

Goats 100 4 0.1 0 0

150 6 0.1 0 0

Chickens
Layers 4 0.21 0.01 0 0
Hens 2 0.14 0.005 0 0

Beef 500 30 0.5 0 0

750 45 0.75 0 0
1,000 60 1 0 0

Swine 65 4.2 0.1 0 0

150 9.8 0.15 0 0
200 13 0.2 0 0

Dairy 1,000 82 1.35 0 0

1,400 115 1.8 0 0

Llama 400 16 0.25 0 0

Total Volume = 0.00

Bedding Type Density

Wood shavings 9 lbs./ft3
Straw 2.5 lbs./ft3
Grass hay 4.0 lbs./ ft3
Sawdust 12 lbs./ft3
 Manure Calculator Notes

This calculator is intended for small or hobby farms with 1 to 15 animal units.

One Animal Unit (AU) is equal to one, 1000-pound animal.

For example, ten, 100-pound goats equals one animal unit.

This calculator is also intended for use on farms where the manure has considerable bedding and is dry and
stackable.

Columns (1) and (2) - Select the appropriate animal and weight. If the weight of your animal(s) is significantly
different, contact NERC at athena@nerc.org or 802-254-3636 for additional information.

Column (3) - Enter the number of each type of animal next to the appropriate animal and weight class in
Column (2).

Column (6) - Enter the number of days each animal type is confined between storage clean-out periods
(typically 180 to 250 days). If animals are allowed outside part of the day, then multiply the confinement days by
the decimal percent of time the animal is confined. (Example, if the llama is allowed outside on pastures 6 hours
per day and the storage is cleaned out every 6 months, then the confinement period is: 180 days x (18/24) =
135 days.)

Column (7) - The calculator will factor the product of Column (3) x Column (4) x Column (6) to get the total
quantity of manure produced in pounds between clean-out periods.

Column (8) - The calculator will factor the product of Column (3) x Column (5) x Column (6) to get the total
volume of manure produced in cubic feet (ft3) between each clean-out period.

Column (9) - Enter the type of bedding used. Refer to the chart on Sheet 1. If the bedding used on the farm is
not listed, choose the bedding that most closely matches in order to determine the densty of the bedding if
unknown.

Column (10) - Enter the estimated quantity of bedding used per day per animal. Either weigh what you are
using each day, take the amount used each week (pounds) and divide by 7 and then divide by the number of
animals or take the monthly amount used (pounds) and divide by 30 and then divide by the number of animals.

Column (11) - Enter the bedding density from the chart at the bottom of Sheet 1.

Column (12) - The calculator will factor the product of [Column (3) x Column (6) x Column (10)] divided by
Column (11) to get the total volume of bedding used in cubic feet (ft 3).

Column (13) - The calculator will factor the sum of Column (8) plus (+) Column (12) in cubic feet (ft 3).

The calculator will add the numbers in Column (13) and put the total in the box at the bottom of the form. This is
the total volume of manure and bedding that must be stored between clean-outs.

Adapted from: "Annual Manure Production and Bedding Used Calculation Worksheet," developed by the
Rockingham County Conservation District with funding provided by the New Hampshire Department of
Agriculture, Markets & Food Agricultural Nutrient Management Grant Program.