Available technical options for manure management in environmentally friendly and circular livestock production

Abstract

Manure is an inevitable output of livestock production. It has been used as amendment to fertilise the soils and crops since ancient times, and it can be an asset if properly managed. The correct use of manure promotes sustainable agriculture, closes nutrient cycles and increases crop production, while contributing to the recovery and reuse of resources, according to the circular economy concept. Among these resources are nutrients, water and organic matter. However, many users do not apply recommended manure management practices, and a great amount of nutrients may be lost into the environment leading to air, GHG, water, ecosystems and soil contamination and/or pollution hazards and risks. Sustainable manure management can be complex. The livestock sector is currently confronted with sustainability pressure and a number of challenges from production to consumption. The reality is that positive contribution of livestock to the environment is often forgotten or underestimated and requires interventions for both demand and supply sides. The heterogeneity of manure composition locally and worldwide, due to the breeding of different species as well as feed quality, production system type, animal age and growing stage, are both a challenge and an opportunity for a better manure management towards circularity. Several aspects of manure characteristics, treatment and use in agricultural are addressed in this chapter, through the presentation of a swot analysis showing that there are opportunities to include manure management in circular livestock production.