Hoop structures are increasing in use throughout the mid-west United States and Western Canada. Due to their relatively new emergence manure management strategies are currently being developed. This study set out to examine the moisture and nitrogen variability within the bedding pack, and second to evaluate the effectiveness of four composting strategies. Moisture content of the bedding pack was determined by the resting area, which was interdependant on the season. Moisture content was higher in the dunging area (60-70% moisture) which promoted anaerobic conditions and therefore relatively little decomposition to the resting area.
Composting trials examined four alternatives: turned manure spreader built pile, non-turned manure spreader built pile, turned loader built pile and a non-turned loader built pile. The manure spreader built piles saw large volume and mass reductions relative to the non-turned loader built pile. However the amount of nitrogen contained in the manure was greatest with the non-turned loader built pile, less ammonia volatilization occurs due to the lack of turning.