Question
Can fresh cattle/horse manure be used safely and effectively to raise soil NPK levels without initial composting?

Answer
No, sorry.  You need to compost "hot" manure - like horse and cow.  "Cold" manure can be used right away - like sheep, rabbit, or llama.  You need to be careful not to use composted horse manure for too many years, because it will eventually raise the salt content of the soil and render it unviable.  Cow or horse manure doesn't have many nutrients in it.  

If you have to use horse or cow manure, I would suggest getting it into a pile and letting it set for a year, sifting it, and then composting it.  That way the heat of the fresh manure will allow it to break down quickly, and sifting it will remove the clumps that have not broken down, and you can then begin to compost with it.

If you could get sheep or rabbit manure that have high N content, and use a shredder and mix it with alfalfa hay (half and half) you would also have a great mulch as well as a soil additive.

For more information on composting and how to build a compost pile, please visit our website: http://www.avant-gardening.com/