Out-wintering pads (OWPs) are a cattle-housing system in which a layer of timber residue (often ~50 mm woodchips[1] is placed over an artificially drained surface to control solid and liquid excreta from animal confinement.[2][3] In some climates such as the United Kingdom and Ireland, OWPs allow livestock to be housed outdoors over winter.
“Spent” timber residues (STRs, timber residues soiled with animal excreta) can be applied to land as a source of organic matter and nutrients.[4][5]
References
- ^ "agriculture" (PDF). Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ "Improved design and management of woodchip pads for sustainable out-wintering of livestock" (PDF). Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ Smith, K. 2005. Final Report: Survey of Woodchip Corrals and Stand-off Pads in England and Wales: Construction, Operation and Management Practices, and Potential. Wolverhampton, UK: Environmental Protection Agency, ADAS
- ^ Augustenborg, C.A.; O.T. Carton; R.P.O. Schulte; and I.H. Suffet(2007) "Response of silage yield to land application of out-wintering pad effluent in Ireland", Agricultural Water Management, 95(4)367-374.)
- ^ Augustenborg, C.A.; O.T. Carton; R.P.O. Schulte; and I. H. Suffet (2008) "Silage Dry-Matter Yield and Nitrogen Response following Land Application of Spent Timber Residue from Out-Wintering Pads to Irish Grassland", Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis,39:7,1122—1137.