The excretion of manure-borne steroid hormones, including estrogens and androgens in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang province was estimated in this study on the basis of statistical data and by using the referenced estimation method in developed countries. In addition, the potential ecological risk of manure-borne steroid estrogens to local surface water systems from applying animal manure was preliminarily assessed. As a result of the rapid development of animal production, the excretions of manure-borne steroid hormones increased in all the three northeast provinces. In 2008, the emissions of total manure-borne estrogens and androgens increased by 2 272.7, 1 951.1 and 1 634.8 kg compared to those in 1998 in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, respectively. Especially, the growth rates in the three capital cities of Shenyang, Changchun and Harbin were the fastest among their own provinces. The largest emissions of manure-borne steroid hormones, as well as the highest concentration of predicted estradiol equivalency (EEQs) in the surface water system were found in Liaoning province. According to the lowest observable effect concentration for 17beta-estradiol (10 ng x L(-1)) recommended by the Environmental Agency of United Kingdom, 17.1 ng x L(-1) of EEQs level in Liaoning province might have become a potential risk to local surface water systems.