Is there a difference between conventional steer manure and organic/hormone-free/steroid-free steer manure?
The difference is the chemicals that will be present in the manure. Steers raised the conventional way will have been injected with or fed many medicinal drugs (hormones, steroids, and antibiotics) and will have been purposely exposed to insecticides. Some of these chemicals remain in their manure even after it is composted and you will come in contact with them when you prepare and work on your bed and they may be absorbed by your vegetable plants. Also, conventionally raised steers may have eaten hay treated with the herbicides like Milestone, Forefront, or Grazon (active ingredient aminopyralid). Typically, the active ingredients from most herbicides are either broken down by the animals’ digestive system or during the composting process, but this is not the case with this group of chemicals. These herbicides remain active in the composted manure and will have toxic effects on your vegetable plants. Obviously, organic steer manure is better; however, it is very difficult to find and
