Evaluation of manure production and characteristics in a beef cattle bedded pack barn: Effects of season and growth stage

= 0.69), which partially explained the variation across growth stages; however, composting processes influenced by seasonal factors also played important roles. Compared to the baseline, moisture mass decreased by 50%-55% in summer, 12%-22% in autumn, and 6%-21% in winter. Volatile solids decomposition ranged seasonally from 37% to 48% in summer to 9% to 14% in winter, with autumn values between 22% and 28%. Consequently, total manure production declined by approximately 51% in summer and 18% in winter relative to the baseline. These findings underscore the importance of considering seasonal effects, growth stages, and composting practices when estimating manure production in bedded pack barns.