> Frank, et al, > > - Most cattle feeds are supplemented with copper to the point that > are considered to be dangerous to sheep (sheep apparently cannot > eliminate cooper appropriately and it eventually becomes toxic in > their systems). Does this added copper interfere with the > decomposition of cow pies in the pasture?
I hate to waffle but the short answer is, I don't know. If the levels are too high, then several members of the detritivore community will be inhibited, according to stuff I read from the site I posted to Manfred and the list earlier. If the levels are just right, everything is beautiful. There definitely is enough copper in commercial swine manure to inhibit earthworm (Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei) activity. Precomposting the manure apparently changes the valence of the copper rendering it harmless to the worms. If you made a compost or vermicompost with your cattle manure, and then made a tea from that, and applied it to the pasture, it may contain copper adapted microbes that would hasten the transformation of your fresh manure copper into something local fauna could handle. Sounds like a good question to pose to Elaine, among others..... Frank
