Worms......

[checkmate1]

I am on DIY livery at a small yard, we poo pick very often but the poo is put into a big pile in the field, it will rot down and be removed from fields a few months later, or spread over field when field being harrowed etc for fertilizer. We've got lots and lots of grazing (thought at the moment they are on winter grazing and my horse thinks her troat has been cut!)and the 4 horses and wormed regulary. Now if there are worms in the poo, can they not just crawl out of the poo pile and back onto the pasture to be ingested? Or do they die after a certain period of not being in a horse?? Pls someone have an answer!!! (I was thinking this whilst poo picking tonight!!) Thanks!

 

[zelli]

Yes, worms can travel, however the distance in which is limited, (I cant remember how far this is im afraid). They do also need to be in a horse in order to survive, however each type of worm has its own life span, with one (cant remember what right now) being able to easily survive throughout the whole winter, and if theyve found themselves a protected spot, will also survive the summer.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Poo picking regularly is one of the best methods of worm control however to pile it in the field that the horses are grazing in tends to defeat the object

The poo needs to be removed.

As for harrowing the poo over the field to use as fertiliser, again this is not a good idea. It's alright on fields that are not used for horse grazing but harowing does not kill off the worms/eggs etc. In a hot climate like Spain & around the Med harrowing does the job as it sprerads the poo & the heat of the sun kills off worms & eggs....in our climate that's mild it does not.

 

[zelli]

I read somewhere recently (cant remember where...) that apparently, the way in which are climate is changing will cause worms to thrive!

 

[checkmate1]

Thanks, I thought this was the case!! Right, need to try and see if I can persuade ppl to change their habits.

 

[CBFan]

I don't think piling it up in the field is such a bad idea as the horses aren't going to stand there and munch a pile of poo, thus ingesting the worms or indeed the grass around the pile of poo as it will be sour because of the pile of poo. Thus the risk of them ingesting the worms is pretty low.

Spreading the poo back on the field somewhat defeats the object of picking it in the first place - you might as well not bother picking and harrow rourtinely instead but a) this will spread any worms present and b) will sour the grass meaning that the horses don't like to graze it. Extreamly hot or cold weather is suposed to kill off any worms...

 

[at work]

If it is spread after the muck has rotted down properly it should be OK to spread it. The muck heap gets very hot in the rotting process, so that should kill off any eggs and the adult worms will have died anyway.

 

[checkmate1]

I ment to say its spread after rotted and then usually given few month off as we rotate pastures. I've been thinking, need to try and encourage only one poo pile in the field or something, as I can't see the point in having loads!! Thanks for replies, given me food for thought!!