Effect of composting on the fate of steroids in beef cattle manure

Bartlelt-Hunt, S.L. and De Vivo, S and Johnson, L.C. and Snow, D.D. and Kranz, W.L. and Mader, T.L. and Shapiro, C.A. and Van Donk, S.J. and Shelton, D.P. and Zhang, T.C. and Tarkalson, D.D. (2013) Effect of composting on the fate of steroids in beef cattle manure. Journal of Environmental Quality. 42(4):1159-1166.

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Abstract

In this study, the fate of steroid hormones in beef cattle manure composting is evaluated. The fate of 16 steroids and metabolites was evaluated in composted manure from beef cattle administered growth promotants and from beef cattle with no steroid hormone implants. The fate of estrogens (primary detected as estrone), androgens, progesterone, and the fusarium metabolite and implant a-zearalanol were monitored in manure compost piles. First-order decay rates were calculated for steroid half-lives in compost and ranged from 8 days for androsterone to 69 days for 4-androsterone. Other steroid concentration data did not fit first-order decay models which may indicate that other microbial processes may result in steroid production or synthesis in composting systems. We demonstrate that composting is an effective strategy to remove steroid hormones from manure. Total steroid hormone removal in composted beef cattle manure ranged from 79-87%.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1519
Subjects:	Animal > Feed preference Animal Manure
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	08 Dec 2014 17:27
Last Modified:	07 May 2015 16:14
Item ID:	1563
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1563