A preliminary study of equine manure storage and disposal methods in stables in the Maltese islands

Abstract

The objective of this study is to increase the level of understanding of the equestrian industry locally, particularly the considerations of housing equines, equine diet, and manure management practices. This was achieved through the use of questionnaires, circulated among horse owners, over a period of one month; 107 respondents began answering the survey, however only 78 completed it. Results indicated that more effort needs to be placed on educating equine owners on sustainable manure management practices, as well as enforcement of regulations already in place. Furthermore, two manure samples were collected from facilities using different management practices (M1 was faeces, without bedding material, from only one horse on a private residence; M2 was manure, with bedding material, collected from a communal skip at a livery stables). The samples were tested for pH, conductivity, nitrates and potassium, and metals (copper and zinc). A basic run of Near-lnfrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) was also performed. Results of this preliminary study were inconclusive, however there is indeed potential for the development of an in-depth manure analysis study, especially in relation to the calibration of the NIRS.