Re: Iris help

  I have heard that it is not a good idea to use feedlot manure because the
steers and heifers are fed salt mixed in their food and minerals instead of
free choice. When offered free choice they do not eat more than they need.
> This advice was presented at our spring daylily program by a New York
hybridizer.
> Sincerely Wendy, Zone 5
>   >
    Although I don't run a feedlot, my family does raise steers.   Salt, by
itself, does not promote an appetite.   If taken in excess, it makes one
thirsty.  A normal amount of salt replaces salt lost through perspiring,
which animals do.   Most ranchers and farmers provide salt blocks to their
large animals because they need salt just like humans do.   The better salt
blocks contain minerals, it's a way to get all the proper minerals to an
animal.   You may have heard of things like selenium depleted soil?  This
sort of thing means an animal is not getting the minerals it needs from the
pasture.   So mineral supplements is just like humans taking vitamins.  It's
for better and healthy growth.  It is not to make them eat more.   It's
possible that a feedlot might provide a balanced feed that contains
minerals, including salt, as opposed to salt/mineral blocks, but blocks are
still popular.   No feedlot is going to feed anything in excess or give
minerals the animal doesn't need... it would be a waste of money, and they
don't have much of a profit margin.
    When you say "they don't eat more than they need", you need to
understand that feedlots use proven livestock management to encourage
optimum growth.  With my sons' 4-H project, we're taught and we practice a
feeding program so that his steer eats an optimum diet.   And if the steer
was given "his choice", he wants to eat more grain and sweet alfalfa!   And
they stop when they're full.  By choice.  (Believe me, I'd not want to mud
wrestle a 1000 pound animal to "make" him eat... I'd lose!)
     On the other side, I just got done replentishing a large bed and
replanting iris this week.   I removed all iris, which have grown there over
10 years.   What did I add?   Steer manure, Dolomite, and mineral
supplements.   The reason?  To add mineral supplements and compost/nutrients
back to the depleted soil.   So I can't see a single reason why steer manure
from a feedlot wouldn't be ok... any trace minerals should be an added bonus
for your soil!   Steer manure is NOT going to contain higher percentage of
minerals than you would put into the soil by using a fertilizer or mineral
supplement.
      Regarding using manure in your beds, I've had great luck with growing
just about everything.   I've used "hot" manure (hot means first year, not
fresh manure), and I've used "aged" manure.   Especially with hot manure, it
is important to mix well with the soil, and keep wet for some time until the
manure composts naturally.   If you let it get too much on the dry side or
just lightly moist, the decomposing process, going at full keel, actually
makes the mixture get very hot in itself.   Just stick your hand in, it will
be very hot to the touch.   That's why they call it "hot" manure.   If you
add water (like in water daily or every other day), it'll slow down that
process and keep the soil cool.    I've planted a wide variety of plants in
soil supplemented with "hot" manure, and as long as it is kept watered, the
plants grow like weeds... no.. better than weeds.   Even when you use aged
manure, you don't want to let the soil get on the dry side, because the
decomposing, which raises the soil temperature, can be harmful to the plant
roots.   I understand that some with heavy or clay soils can have problems
with manure leading to rot in their rhizomes...  one would need to know
their area to know what works best.
Kitty Loberg, northern Calif.

>   I only once used a significant amount of steer manure in an iris bed.
>   Almost everything rotted out.  It was way too hot from decomposition,
>   loaded with nasty bacteria, and salty to the point of stressing the
iris.  Maybe
>   someone else has had different experiences, but I will never again use
>   steer manure on my iris.
>
>   >I think this would be true of any fresh manure.  You need to have what
is
>   >referred to as 'well rotten' manure, and don't put it right on the iris
but
>   >make them reach for it


 

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