• Composted cow manure makes excellent compost."?Que me ves? / What!?" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Davichi (David Oliva) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
  
  

Odor, Weed and Pathogen Free

• As compost heats up, pathogens and bacteria that cause odors are destroyed. The composting process kills weed seeds, too.
  
  

Soil Structure

• Cow manure improves soil structure. Soil becomes less resistant to compaction and holds water better.
  
  

Nutrients

• Because it is lower in nutrients than other types of manure, you can use cow manure more frequently without risk of overfeeding.
  
  

Types of Cattle

• Dairy cow manure contains fewer weed seeds and has a lower salt content than steer manure and is therefore more desirable as compost.
  
  

Fresh Cow Manure

• Fresh cow manure should be aged at least 60 days before being added to the garden. Place the manure in a compost bin or simply create a 3-foot-square pile. Turn the pile weekly and use freely.
  
  

Innovative Use

• Manure fiber-based seed starting pots can be planted directly in the garden. Biodegradable and renewable, they are the brainchild of---who else?---two dairy farmers.