Disposal of Dead Animals
Disposal
of Dead Animals
Composting Deadstock
Resources on Deadstock
Disposal
Carcasses can be a hazard to the environment
and other animals so they require special handling. To minimize soil or
water contamination and the risk of spreading disease, guidelines for proper
carcass disposal must be followed. Disposal options include calling a licensed
collector to remove deadstock or burial in an approved Animal Disposal
Pit. Alternatives include incineration and composting. Composting avoids
the air contamination associated with burning mortalities and is economical.
Since the heat in the pile eliminates most pathogens, composting can also
improve the biosecurity of your farming operation.
If death was caused by a highly infectious
disease,
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Clean and disinfect the area after the carcass
is removed.
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Wear protective clothing when handling deadstock
and thoroughly disinfect or dispose of clothing before handling live animals.
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Properly dispose of contaminated bedding,
milk, manure, or feed.
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Check with your State Veterinarian about disposal
options. Burial may not be legal. Special methods of incineration or composting
may be used in cases of highly infectious diseases.
If a licensed collector picks up your deadstock,
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Limit the access of the deadstock collector
and his vehicle to areas well away from other animals, their feed and water
supply, grazing areas, or walkways.
If you bury deadstock on your own property,
minimum site requirements in Vermont, according to the Agency of Natural
Resources Procedure Addressing Disposal of Dead Animals (2001), are:
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6 feet above bedrock, 4 feet above seasonal
high ground water
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2 feet of soil on top, final cover
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greater than 100 feet from property lines
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greater than 300 feet from water supplies
Animals that were exhibiting neurologic
signs prior to death will need to have samples collected by your veterinarian
for testing. Special disposal regulations may apply.
Composting
Deadstock
If you compost your deadstock, follow the
steps listed below:
1. Decide what method you will use.
Composting methods include static piles,
turned windrows, turned bins, and contained systems. Information on the
first three methods is available on several Websites listed under "Resources
on deadstock disposal."
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Static piles with minimum dimensions of 4
feet long, by 4 feet wide, by 4 feet deep are by far the simplest to use.
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Turned windrows may be an option for farmers
already composting manure in windrows.
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Turned bin systems are more common for handling
swine and poultry mortalities.
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The eco-pod is a contained system developed
by Ag-Bag, which has been used to compost swine and poultry mortalities.
(Information is available through Ag-Bag, 800-334-7432 or compost@ag-bag.com.)
2. Select an appropriate site.
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Well-drained with all-season accessibility.
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At least 3 feet above seasonal high ground
water levels.
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At least 100 (preferably 200) feet from surface
waterways, sinkholes, seasonal seeps, or ponds.
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At least 150 feet from roads or property lines--think
about which way the wind blows.
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Outside any Class I groundwater, wetland or
buffer, or Source Protection Area – contact NRCS for verification.
3. Select and use effective carbon sources.
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Use materials such as wood chips, wood shavings,
coarse sawdust, chopped straw or dry heavily bedded horse or heifer manure
as bulking materials. Co-compost materials for the base and cover must
allow air to enter the pile.
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If the bulking materials are not very absorbent,
cover them with a 6-inch layer of sawdust to prevent fluids from leaching
from the pile.
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Cover the carcass 2 feet deep with high-carbon
materials such as old silage, dry bedding (other than paper), sawdust,
or compost from an old pile.
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Plan on a 12’ x 12’ base for an adult dairy
or beef animal. The base should be at least 2 feet deep and should allow
2 feet on all sides around the carcass.
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When composting smaller carcasses, place them
in layers separated by 2 feet of material.
4. Prepare the carcass.
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After placing the carcass on the base, lance
the rumen of adult cattle. Forget this once and you’ll never forget again!
Explosive release of gasses may uncover the pile releasing odors and attracting
scavengers.
5. Protect the site from scavengers.
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Adequate depth of materials on top of the
carcass should minimize odors and the risk of scavengers disturbing the
pile.
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Scavengers may be deterred by the temperatures
within the pile, but, if not, an inexpensive fence of upside down hog wire
may be adequate to avoid problems.
6. Monitor the process.
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Keep a log of temperature, carcass weight,
and co-compost materials when each pile is started. Weather and starting
materials will affect the process.
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Measure pile temperature with a compost thermometer
6 to 8 inches from the top of the pile and deep within to check for proper
heating. Check daily for the first week or two. Pile temperature should
reach 131oF for 3 consecutive days to eliminate common pathogens.
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Record events or problems such as scavenging,
odors, or liquid leaking from the pile.
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Wait. Most large carcasses will be fully
degraded within 4-6 months. Smaller carcasses take less time. Turning the
pile after 3 months can accelerate the process.
7. Use the finished materials carefully.
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Use as the base for a new pile. Bones add
structure and will continue to decompose.
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Spread on fields growing animal feedstuffs.
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Avoid spreading material with large bones
on fields as they may fragment and puncture tires.
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Do not spread skulls. They’re bad for public
relations!
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Resources on
Deadstock Disposal 
Procedure Addressing Disposal of Dead
Animals, Solid Waste Management Division, Department of Environmental
Conservation, State of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, 802-241-3888.
Natural Rendering Fact Sheet 2002,
Cornell Waste Management Institute, available at http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/wmi/Composting.html
or through the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service (NRAES),
607-255-7654.
Natural Rendering Video. Cornell
Waste Management Institute. NRAES #163. This video describes mortality
and butcher residual composting featuring eight operations. Available through
NRAES, 607-255-7654.
Farm Based Composting: Manure and More
Video, NRAES #150. Video highlights 14 farm operations and six different
composting technologies. Available through NRAES, 607-255-7654.
Field Guide to On-Farm Composting,
NRAES #114. Guide provides practical information applicable to manure and
mortality composting. Available through NRAES, 607-255-7654.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture, http://www.mda.state.mn.us/composting/default.htm.
Provides basic information on methods. Also describes legalities of composting
mortalities in Minnesota.
Composting Animal Mortalities, Agricultural
Development Division, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, available at
MNmortalitycomposting.pdf.
Natural Rendering Website. Penn State College
of Agricultural Sciences, http://composting.cas.psu.edu/NatRendering.htm.
Provides links to resources and shows pictures of the mortality composting
process.
Emergency Livestock Mortality Composting
http://www.abe.iastate.edu/cattlecomposting
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Last modified August 27 2004 12:13 PM
