Animal waste is generated in beef cattle feedlots, swine operation sites, dairy barns, poultry houses, and other sites of livestock operations. This renewable resource is a source of macronutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and micronutrients (including zinc, copper, iron, and magnesium) that are essential for growing plants. Therefore, manure can be an excellent substitute for synthetic fertilizers. Manure application can also increase the soil organic matter, an important factor influencing physical characteristics and chemical and biological activities in the soil.

Manure was used for centuries all over the world for improving soil fertility and enhancing crop productivity. However, with the advent of synthetic fertilizers after World War II, manure was considered more of a liability than a great soil nutrient resource.