1. Livestock Yards Management Manure nutrients and pathogens are potential surface and groundwater contaminates.
Remove and utilize manure nutrients as a resource.
Minimize clean water from entering area.
Prevent contamination of surface water by controlling runoff.
Prevent leaching of contaminates to groundwater.
Livestock Yards Management, by Lyndon Kelley, MSU Extension

2. Livestock Yards
Areas where livestock are contained and additional feed beyond vegetation is fed.
Holding areas
Dirt lot
Run lot
Loafing area
Walk ways
Exercise areas
Winter holding areas
Livestock Yards Management

3. Livestock Yards Areas where livestock are contained
and additional feed beyond vegetation is
fed.
Not:
- a pasture field
- off season grazing
of crop residue
Livestock Yards Management

4. Well Isolation Distance
Paved, concrete or active livestock dirt lot.
50 feet or more from residential wells.
75 feet from the farm well for dairies or farms with employees.
MAEAP verification granted to farm with shorter separation distances with appropriate precautions.
Livestock Yards Management 11.1

5. Isolation Distance From Surface Water
Properly designed and maintained livestock yard.
More than 300 feet from surface water.
Runoff control protects neighboring land.
Runoff control prevents direct discharge to surface or groundwater.
Livestock Yards Management 11.2

6. Isolation Distance From Surface Water
Properly designed and maintained livestock yard.
More than 300 feet from surface water.
Runoff control protects
neighboring land.
Runoff control prevents
direct discharge to surface
or groundwater.
Livestock Yards Management 11.2

7. Clean Water Management
Most roof water is diverted around livestock yard.
Upslope watershed drainage is diverted around livestock yard.
Livestock Yards Management 11.3

8. Clean Water Management
Water that contacts manure is treated or contained and applied to cropland.
Livestock Yards Management 11.4

9. Runoff Management
No evidence of runoff to surface water or to adjacent property.
Livestock Yards Management 11.4

10. Runoff Management All yard runoff directed to a properly designed
and maintained runoff storage basin. or
Settling basin and
vegetated infiltration
area.
Vegetation in infiltration
area is harvested
annually or more often.
Livestock Yards Management 11.4

11. Runoff Management No evidence of runoff ponding in low areas.
Livestock Yards Management 11.4

12. Yard Cleaning Frequency
Manure is scraped and removed from vicinity of feeding and
watering areas when accumulation forms a volume that may be
hauled.
Livestock Yards Management 11.5

13. Yard Cleaning Frequency
Manure is scraped and removed periodically from livestock yard.
Livestock Yards Management 11.5

14. Livestock Yard Floor or Base
Concrete or compacted asphalt.
Properly designed and maintained runoff control system.
Livestock Yards Management 11.6

15. Livestock Yard Floor or Base
Continuous-use, compacted dirt yard in medium or finer textured soils.
No visible sign of
plant material
growing.
Livestock Yards Management 11.6

16. Livestock Yards Management: Manure nutrients and pathogens are potential surface and groundwater contaminates.
Remove and utilize manure nutrients as a resource.
Minimize clean water from entering area.
Prevent contamination of surface by controlling runoff.
Prevent leaching of contaminates to ground water.
Livestock Yards Management

17. Questions?
Thank You!
Created by
Lyndon Kelley
MSU Extension