Safeguards include keeping animals away from litter, careful storage and spreading (avoiding windy conditions), maintaining buffer zones near waterways, and regular soil testing to manage nutrient levels. These steps help protect animal health, human safety, and the environment.

Feed is a significant cost for Australian dairy farmers, who typically choose to use one of three types of feeding systems, which may include pasture. Effective production of pasture through the safe use of fertilisers, such as chicken litter, can help increase feed levels in a cost-efficient manner.

A fertiliser is any type of material added to soil to improve nutrient levels and can be classified as organic or inorganic. A dairy farmer's choice of fertiliser depends on several factors, including soil conditions and existing nutrient balance. Dairy Australia runs a number of programs to help dairy farmers make profitable and environmentally responsible fertiliser management decisions. Fertsmart, for example, provides guidance on nutrient management planning and efficient use of nutrient inputs via fertilisers, organic products and effluent.

Chicken or poultry litter is an example of an organic fertiliser and typically contains a mix of bedding material, manure, and feathers used in poultry operations. Depending on the makeup of the litter, which can vary significantly, it may be a source of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, the three primary ingredients found in fertiliser.

When using poultry litter, appropriate management techniques must be applied to ensure the safety of animals, human health and the environment. Certain pathogens and other contaminants can be found in the litter. If not handled correctly, these materials may build up in pastures, be consumed by cows, or run-off into surrounding water and disperse into the environment.

General guidelines for the safe and correct use of chicken litter include:

• Animals should be prevented from gaining access to litter.
• Care should be taken when storing and spreading poultry litter - windy conditions, for example, can increase the risk of contamination.
• An unfertilised, vegetated buffer should be maintained around all boundaries and alongside waterways.

In addition, Dairy Australia recommends farmers engage in regular soil testing to ensure that desired soil nutrients are being achieved. This is particularly important when using poultry litter, as its nutritional content may vary.