La cattle manure management It has become a key issue for the livestock sector, not only due to legal obligations, but also because of its direct impact on climate, soil quality, water, and air. Good planning makes the difference between a problematic residue and a valuable resource capable of reducing fertilizer costs and improving crop yields.
In recent years there have appeared new digital tools, specific regulations and technical protocols that help farms organize the production, storage, treatment, and application of bovine manure. From mobile applications designed as decision support systems to regional decrees that regulate deadlines, records, and controls, the current scenario requires professionalizing this management, but also opens the door to using manure as a genuine biofertilizer within the circular economy.
Environmental and agronomic importance of cattle manure
Bovine manure is a source of organic matter and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and microelements) essential to maintain the fertility of agricultural soils, but, if mismanaged, can become a source of water pollution, emissions into the atmosphere and discomfort for the nearby population.
When manure is stored improperly or applied without planning, the risks increase. methane emissionsammonia and other short-lived climate pollutantsIn systems with liquid storage, methane emissions can be very high, while the use of manure as fuel (for cooking or heating) generates black carbon, with a significant effect on climate and air quality.
The increase in global demand for meat and milk suggests a growth of the livestock censusespecially in developing regions. Without proper manure management, this increase in livestock would lead to a parallel increase in greenhouse gas emissions, risks of nitrate pollution, and problems associated with the collection, storage, treatment, and application of manure in the field.
At the same time, good management allows manure to cease being a problematic waste product and become something else. biofertilizer with high agronomic valueManure is capable of improving soil structure, increasing its water retention capacity, and reducing dependence on mineral fertilizers. The rational use of manure also aligns with the objectives of a circular economy and fertilizer sovereignty in rural areas.
However, many farmers find themselves technical, economic or information limitations which hinder the adoption of advanced management practices. Hence the growing importance of support tools, official guidelines, and regulatory frameworks that organize and facilitate this transformation process of the manure management system.
Regulations and obligations in the management of cattle manure
The management of cattle manure is heavily influenced by a number of factors. regional decrees, orders and inspection plans that seek to guarantee the protection of the environment and the correct agronomic use of these organic materials.
In certain autonomous communities, specific regulations have been approved to govern this matter. For example, the Decree 53 / 2019In Aragon, it regulates manure management and accreditation and control procedures, while other territories have regulations such as the Decree 34 / 2013, which sets the conditions for the use of manure as an organic amendment in agricultural and forest soils.
These regulatory frameworks have common objectives: to ensure that manure generated in intensive farming is managed correctly, that its use on agricultural plots is adjusted to the soil's absorption capacity and the needs of the crops, and that it is promotes the circular economy taking advantage of the fertilizing potential of manure instead of considering it as a simple waste product.
The rules also state deadlines for adapting environmental authorizationsThis includes obligations to submit annual declarations of manure production and management, and to have transport documentation when used as fertilizers or organic amendments. This comprehensive approach allows for traceability of manure from its generation on the farm until its final application to the soil.
In parallel, farms and management centers are required to maintain a Manure Management RecordThis record should document movements, volumes, destinations, and, where applicable, treatments applied. It is key to demonstrating legal compliance during inspections and audits and contributes to better internal organization of the farm itself.
Official applications for declaration and control: AGSTI
To facilitate compliance with these obligations, some administrations have developed specific digital tools, such as the application AGSTI – Aragon manure management, designed so that management centers and owners of farms can electronically submit their annual production and management declaration.
Through access to AGSTI, intensive livestock farms and management centers can enter, update and sign electronically Its manure production data, destinations, receiving areas, and other relevant parameters. The application allows users to filter declarations, create new ones, attach annexes, and manage storage and distribution capacities.
AGSTI has user manuals and explanatory videos These guides provide step-by-step instructions on accessing, creating, and validating declarations, as well as on using the various tabs (Capacities, Composition, Places and Volumes, Deliveries, Land, Fertilizers, Variations, Observations, etc.). This supporting documentation is complemented by a support service to resolve technical questions or issues.
In addition, the tool allows import data using Excel files (.xls and .xlsx in versions after 2003), which speeds up the uploading of large volumes of information. File templates and their instructions can be downloaded from the manuals themselves or from the platform, making the work easier for managers and collaborating entities.
One particularly useful element is the system of automatic alerts and internal controls AGSTI incorporates: the application alerts when the amount of manure distributed does not match the amount produced, when there is excess nitrogen per hectare or when the usable area of a crop is exceeded, helping to detect and correct errors before definitively registering the declaration.
Adaptation of authorizations and types of management systems
Intensive livestock farms subject to integrated environmental authorization (AAI) Environmental licensees for classified activities (LAC) must adapt their authorizations to reflect the manure management system they choose, within the deadlines set by the regulations of each autonomous community.
In many cases, the adaptation is carried out automatically once the owner notifies the environmental body (for example, a regional environmental management institute or the competent municipality) of the chosen manure management modelThis allows for updating the environmental authorization conditions, ensuring that the facilities and storage capacities are in line with the production plan and the intended use of the manure.
There are three common management system options: the self-management (when the farm has enough agricultural land to absorb all the manure production), the diversion to a manure management center (CGE) authorized, or a system mixed in which the use of own land is combined with the delivery of surpluses to a management center.
Manure management centers, for their part, must adapt their Environmental license and registration in the SANDACH registry (Animal By-Products Not Intended for Human Consumption) to reflect the activity of collecting, storing, treating, and distributing manure as an organic amendment. These facilities act as an intermediary link between livestock farms and agricultural or forestry operations.
In communities where the use of manure as a soil amendment is regulated, distribution centers must submit a Manure Production and Management Plan along with the authorization application, and maintain a detailed record of entries, exits, and operations. Centers already authorized when the decree comes into effect usually have a specific timeframe to adapt their documentation and submit this plan.
Annual declarations, registrations and administrative deadlines
Current regulations require farms and management centers to file annual returns manure production and management, within timeframes that vary depending on the type of facility and the autonomous community.
In the case of intensive livestock farms subject to Integrated Environmental Authorization (IEA) or Local Agricultural Cooperation (LAC) and which own land, the typical deadline for submitting the annual declaration is usually before June 30For those subject to LAC without land ownership, a specific communication of the destination of the manure may be required at an earlier date and, in case of subsequent changes, notification of these modifications before the same June 30th through the corresponding procedure.
Manure management centers usually have somewhat earlier deadlines, for example before March 31These declarations are identified through separate procedures in the electronic administration system. Furthermore, collaborating entities (such as those processing CAP aid) are permitted to submit these declarations on behalf of the farms.
In some campaigns, they are established specific extensionsFor example, the 2025 campaign, relating to manure generated in 2024, can remain open until November 15, 2025 for management centers and farms, in order to facilitate adaptation to the new obligations or possible technical incidents in the online processing.
At the same time, the regulations of certain regions (such as the aforementioned Decree 34/2013) require farms with a census exceeding a certain number of Livestock Units to submit a Manure Production and Management Plan Within one year of the decree's entry into force, all farms must maintain a Management Register. Distribution centers must also submit their own plan and adapt their storage facilities within the established timeframe (e.g., two years) to comply with capacity and environmental safety requirements.
Inspection and control plan for manure management
To ensure that manure production and management truly comply with regulations, the authorities have approved Inspection and Control Plans specific to the corresponding period, in which the supervision and coordination procedures between different departments are defined.
These plans focus on specific areas such as waste management, atmospheric emissions, and integrated pollution prevention and control, the regulation of animal by-products not intended for human consumption, the protection of waters against nitrate pollution and compliance with fertilization recommendations.
The inspection plan is approved in compliance with the provisions of the decrees that regulate manure management, and establishes the control measures, time-based scheduling and farm selection criteria to be inspected. The objective is to have a global view of compliance and correct possible deviations through requirements, sanctions or technical recommendations.
The existence of these types of plans also encourages farms to improve their registration systems and internal organization, since the documentation (plans, records, analyses, contracts with management centers, etc.) must be available and up-to-date when inspections are carried out.
Provincial services and regional agricultural offices play a key role in the coordination, advice and processing, making available to farmers contact channels (telephone and email) to resolve practical issues relating to manure management obligations.
Composting and advanced agro-composting of cattle manure
Through composting, beef cattle manure is mixed with other structuring organic fractions (plant remains, straw, agricultural by-products, etc.) to adjust the moisture and carbon/nitrogen ratio, promoting aeration and the development of a microbial flora that transforms the mixture into a stable and mature compost, with a lower content of pathogens and odors.
Although composting is a well-known technique, its efficient application requires protocols adapted to each situationThese protocols define the most suitable mixtures based on available raw materials, turning frequency, maturation time, and criteria for assessing the final product quality. They also allow for evaluating the impact on emissions and highlighting the agronomic benefits of the resulting compost.
In this context, specific projects have been developed to generate a Best Available Techniques (BAT) proposal applied to advanced agro-composting of beef cattle manure, with a clear focus on mitigating climate change. Improved, low-cost, and feasible protocols have been designed for the short and medium term, which can be implemented without major investments on most farms.
The result of this work is not limited to simply reducing emissions, but also boosts the production of biofertilizers from agricultural compostingimproving the fertilizer sovereignty of rural areas and offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic mineral fertilizers, which are increasingly expensive and subject to price volatility and environmental restrictions.
The Provacuno DSS Manure app as a decision support system
One of the most interesting advances in cattle manure management is the development of the Provacuno DSS Manure mobile application, promoted by the Interprofessional Beef Organization (PROVACUNO) together with the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) and the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV).
It is a type of DSS (Decision Support System) tool that classifies farms and their manure based on its management system. Using data entered by the user on management practices, the app links each farm to different farm categories and estimates the production and composition of the manure generated.
The application is free and available for iOS and Android devicesIt uses its own database for characterizing manure from beef cattle, in which each type of management is associated with an approximate nutrient composition, allowing guidance on the fertilizer value of the amendments obtained.
Using a predefined decision tree, the tool identifies management practices that favor obtaining higher quality organic amendmentsEach time the farmer enters data or updates information, the app generates a report that can be saved, so the farm builds its own historical database.
This approach allows for comparison of the evolution of manure quality based on the changes applied in management (adjustments in the mixture, modification of the storage system, implementation of composting, etc.) and check how they affect the composition and agronomic behavior of the resulting amendments.
Objectives of the agro-composting project and the role of UMH and UPV
The Provacuno DSS Manure app is part of a larger project aimed at Develop Best Available Techniques for advanced agro-composting of beef cattle manure, focusing on climate change mitigation and practical feasibility on the farm.
Among the specific objectives, the following stand out: biofertilizer generation through the agro-composting of cattle manure, the design of low-cost and easily applicable management protocols, and the contribution to the reduction of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the management cycle.
The project has allowed testing the use of these biofertilizers on agricultural plots, verifying their effect on soil fertility and crop productivityas well as its potential to partially replace mineral fertilizers. This aligns with the fertilizer sovereignty strategy, which is especially relevant in contexts of rising input costs and the need to reduce foreign dependence.
The Miguel Hernández University, through its Innovation and Technological Planning Service (SIPT), has led the technical development of the applicationintegrating it into a set of digital tools geared towards the agricultural and livestock sector, which include, for example, a “compost calculator” to adjust mixtures and doses.
For its part, the collaboration with the Universitat Politècnica de València has contributed scientific and experimental knowledge in the areas of composting, emissions, quality of amendments and agronomic management, which has made it possible to design a practical tool but with a solid technical basis for the day-to-day operations of cattle farms.
Calculation of emissions, nutrient distribution and minimum surface area
A fundamental part of manure management is knowing How much manure is generated, how many nutrients does it contain and what minimum surface area is needed to apply it safely and efficiently, without exceeding the legal limits for nitrogen input.
Official planning tools (such as the "Emissions Calculation" and "Distribution Plan" screens of certain regional applications) collect data on the annual amount of manure produced by species and type of waste (slurry, solid manure, etc.), as well as on the content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and microelements such as copper and zinc.
In the case of species such as cattle, sheep, horses, and birds, the application distinguishes the disposal site from manure (inside stables, meadows, parks, extensive pasture, etc.), since the spatial distribution of nutrients changes if the manure is deposited directly on the ground or accumulates in pits or manure heaps.
When a species produces only one type of manure, the average nutrient composition (e.g., kg of N per ton of manure) is obtained by dividing the total kilograms of nitrogen by the tons produced. In the case of species that produce several types of manure (e.g., raw slurry and solid manure), the total nitrogen removed and the annual amount of each type are available, so it is necessary to assign the proportion of nutrients to each fraction, either using official composition tables (such as those of the ITG Ganadero) or results of laboratory analysis carried out according to protocol.
Based on this data, the application calculates a indicative minimum surface area This information is necessary for distributing manure, based on limits of 250 kg N/ha or 170 kg N/ha in areas vulnerable to nitrate pollution. This information is essential to determine whether the farm has sufficient land or if it is necessary to reach agreements with other farmers or management centers.
Distribution plan: frequency, dosage and limit control
The “Distribution Plan” is the document or module where it is defined how, when and where manure is applied produced on the farm, in a manner consistent with the needs of the crops and legal restrictions.
To prepare it correctly, several elements must be taken into account: the total manure produced, the amount of nitrogen to be distributed (derived from the calculation of emissions), the usable area of each crop, the application frequency (annual, twice a year, biennial, etc.), the nutritional needs of each crop (according to technical recommendations such as those of the ITG Agrícola) and the recommended or discouraged application time.
In practice, if the average composition of the manure (kg N/t) is known, simply enter this data in the corresponding box, so that the application Automatically calculate the kilograms of nitrogen applied according to the amount of manure and the assigned area. In other cases, you can choose to directly enter the kg of N, leaving the average composition box blank, especially when specific analyses are available.
Typical examples show how to distribute, for instance, 1200 tons of manure with a specific nitrogen composition over 40 or 80 hectares, adjusting the area used according to the application frequency. Applying it once a year or several times a year influences the distribution of doses per hectare and how the number of hectares used is reflected in the plan.
The application emits warnings if certain basic requirements are not met: that the sum of the manure distributed coincides with the total annual production, that the total amount of nitrogen applied is the same as that calculated as to be distributed, that the available usable area per crop is not exceeded (taking into account the periodicity), and that the limits of 250 kg N/ha or 170 kg N/ha in vulnerable areas are not exceeded.
Storage, densities and required volume
Another crucial aspect in cattle manure management is correctly sizing the storage facilitiesso that they can absorb production peaks without risk of overflows or uncontrolled spills.
The summaries of the distribution plans usually show the manure accumulated month by monthThe required storage volume corresponds, in practice, to the month in which the maximum accumulated volume is reached. However, since the data is expressed in tons, it is necessary to convert it to cubic meters using density values.
The standard densities used in many technical guides distinguish between liquid manure and solid manure, with reference values such as 1 t/m³ for liquid manure, 0,80 t/m³ for dairy cattle, 0,70 t/m³ for breeding beef cattle, 0,85 t/m³ for fattening calves, 0,80 t/m³ for sheep and horses, 0,75 t/m³ for rabbits, 0,90 t/m³ for laying hens, 0,50 t/m³ for meat chickens and turkeys and 0,65 t/m³ for fatty waterfowl.
If you have density analyses performed according to a protocol and duly justified to the administration, a value other than the standard can be used, allowing for more precise planning, especially in large farms or those with particular characteristics of bedding, moisture or compaction.
Having adequate storage capacity is essential not only to comply with the law, but also to adjust the application time to the most agronomically favorable times (avoiding periods of risk of leaching or water-saturated soils) and the technical recommendations on the calendar and needs of the crops.
Information by crop and nutritional needs
Once the distribution plan has been defined, it is necessary to verify, crop by crop, that the applied doses are consistent with the nutritional needs and legal limitsThis is done using "Crop Information" screens or charts where the total nitrogen inputs are summarized (and, in the case of plans adjusted to phosphorus, also of this nutrient).
In these tables, the “N total kg/ha” box should be less than 250 kg/ha (or 170 kg/ha in vulnerable areas). In addition, the "N equivalent kg/ha" field, which takes into account the nitrogen utilization coefficient for each crop, must be below the recommended requirements, according to the type of crop (irrigated or dryland) and the agroclimatic zone.
Official tools usually integrate the recommendations from the Agricultural ITG and the Livestock ITGproviding guidelines on nitrogen requirements by species and cultivation system. For phosphorus-focused plans, a similar check is performed to avoid excessive accumulations that could increase the risk of diffuse contamination.
This approach allows cattle manure to be used in a efficient, appropriate and technically justifiedreducing dependence on mineral fertilizers and avoiding over-fertilization, which not only poses an environmental risk but also an unnecessary expense for the farm.
With all this framework of tools, rules and protocols, the management of cattle manure has become a much more technical and structured process, but also more profitable in the medium and long term: manure goes from being a problem to being a strategic resource within an agricultural production that wants to be more sustainable, more efficient and better integrated into its environment.
