composting animal waste
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: composting animal waste
- From: M* D*
- Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 12:02:04 -0600
At 02:30 AM 12/13/98 EST, WHTROS@aol.com wrote:
>Does anyone know why it is recommended NOT to use pet waste in composting?
>How does that differ from using composted cow manure?
>I must be missing something here but don't know what.
>Does it have something to do with being meat eaters Vs vegetation.
>Barb
Very good points have been raised regarding this issue. One other is the
difference in the natural processes that takes place in the breakdown of
vegetable matter vs. animal matter. As I understand it, vegetable matter
decomposes but proteins putrify. You can tell the difference just in the
odors produced. A well built, all vegetable matter, compost pile has a nice
earthy smell as it decomposes. Like when your compost heap is steaming on a
cold winter day. But a compost heap that has had meat scraps, etc. added
smells bad and attracts varmints (rats for instance) that also increase the
opportunity for spreading disease. I wonder if it is possible to raise the
temperature of a compost heap laced with fresh animal waste proteins high
enough for long enough to destroy any disease-causing pathogens? Marilyn
Marilyn Dube'
NATURAL DESIGN PLANTS
Hardy Perennials, Choice Tropicals
Portland, Oregon, Zone 8b
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