Guidelines for Dry Muck Out

DRY MUCK-OUT

The dry muck-out operation comprises the removal of the bulk of the livestock waste (mostly manure) from the livestock keeping structures by means of a shovel or a scraper and placing it in a properly constructed container. This waste should either be composted on farm or be collected for reuse, treatment or disposal in accordance with the Code of Practice for Livestock Waste Management. During such operation, the farm operator should make suitable arrangement and take all necessary precautions to avoid any spillage or pollution.

All storage containers for livestock waste should be leak-proof, properly designed to prevent ingress of rainwater, and constructed of robust and corrosion resistant material. Each container should have a cover to minimize odour emission and prevent intrusion of insects and rodents, and also have handles such that it can be readily moved or manipulated or lifted by a normal adult during normal use.

Following the dry muck-out of livestock waste, the residues may be washed or hosed out to a soakaway system. The amount of water used and the percentage of solids removed should agree with the size of the soakaway system. Guidelines on soakway system for livestock waste treatment are given in the "Guidelines for Soakaway System".