Carcass Disposal Options

1. Carcass Disposal Options Josh Payne, Ph.D. Area Animal Waste Mgmt. Specialist OSU Cooperative Extension Service

2. Carcass Disposal • Confronts most farmers at some point • Producer must take responsibility • Otherwise state authorities will intervene

3. Improper Disposal • Risks to ground and surface water • Risks to human and animal health • Neighbor/Nuisance complaints

4. Catastrophic Mortality Loss • Any mortality exceeding the capacity of the current disposal system to accommodate losses within 24 hrs.

5. Catastrophic Losses • Disease outbreak • Mother Nature (lightning, frozen pond) • Power failure in poultry house

6. Worst Case Scenario • Estimated 10% death loss on 2 million head of stocker in state equals 200,000 carcasses • Estimated 10% death loss on 300 million broilers in state equals 30 million carcasses • Avian Influenza: 270 – 300 million carcasses • Foot and Mouth: 1.8 – 2 million carcasses

7. Regulations • OK Dept. Ag. Food and Forestry - regulates carcass disposal • Must be contacted during catastrophic mortality loss • Disposed of in approved manner • Contact D.J. Parrish – Director Ag. Environ. Mgmt. Services (405) 522 6357

8. Criminal Statutes

9. Carcass Disposal Options(State Approved) • Rendering • Landfills • Burial • Incineration • Composting

10. Rendering • Cooking the product and converting into animal feedstuff • Meat and bone meal • Expense and logistics of collecting small volumes frequently is major hurdle

11. Rendering • No longer available in OK unless: - transport to rendering facility - pay fee • Valley Proteins accepts carcasses (located West of El Reno)

12. Landfills • Currently 13 counties located E. I-35 w/ landfills accepting livestock carcasses Note: • some landfills require prior notification before delivery and • some require documentation concerning livestock’s cause of death • Consider tipping fees: $20-$25/ton

15. Burial • Perhaps most realistic option • May be costly • OK. Dept. Ag. Food & Forestry (ODAFF) guidelines

16. ODAFF Burial Guidelines • Burial of dead livestock requires the construction of a pit. • Do not locate the burial pit closer than 1 ft. vertically above the flood plain, or within 2 ft. of the water table or bedrock. • Do not locate the burial pit within 300 ft. of wells, waters of the state, neighboring residencies, public areas or property lines. • After placing the dead carcasses in the trench, cover with a minimum of 2.5 ft. of topsoil. Inspect burial sites routinely to ensure that wild animals are not digging and dragging them away.

17. ODAFF Burial Guidelines • CAFOs and RPFOs must receive permission from ODAFF (unless written into AWMP) • Recommend using soil w/proper drainage - sandy clay loam

18. Incineration • Open-air incineration not allowed unless animal died of contagious or infectious disease. • Self contained, closed incinerators and air curtain incinerators allowed. • May require permit. • Contact ODEQ Air Quality Division.

19. Composting • Heavy equipment requirement • Environmentally friendly • Effective • Valuable by-product • Can be labor intensive

20. Composting • Definition: Controlled biological decomposition process that converts organic matter to stable, humus-like product • Bulk is reduced 35 – 40%

21. Composting • CAFOs and RPFOs must receive permission from ODAFF (unless written into AWMP)

22. Composting Components • Nitrogen source (animals/birds) • Carbon source (straw, shavings) • Aerobic microorganisms

23. 4 Important Aspects • Carbon • Air flow • Moisture content • Temperature

24. Your Job? • Manage to provide right food and environment for microorganisms so that they can get their composting work done quickly and effectively!

25. Composting Livestock • Place 12 inches bulking agent on bin concrete floor • Place carcasses on single layer • Cover with 12 inches of bulking agent • Add water as needed • Place additional carcasses on pile using 12 inches bulking agent between layers • When bin is full, add 12 inches to top • Peaks in temp from 140°F to 160°F • Temp drops after depleting available O2 • Move to secondary bin • Aerate by keeping bucket high • Add 12 inches to top • Second heating • Remove and place in storage (3rd heating) • Spread on crop fields

27. Composting Poultry • 1/10 part straw, 1 part weight dead poultry, 1.5 to 2 parts weight poultry litter • Mixture = 25:1 C:N ratio, 45% moisture

28. Composting Poultry • 12 inches litter on bin concrete floor • Add layers of straw, dead birds and litter • Cover each day’s mortality w/ litter • When bin is full add 6 inches of litter to top • Peaks in temp from 140°F to 160°F • Temp drops after depleting available O2 • Move to secondary bin • Aerate by keeping bucket high • Add 6 inches of litter to top • Second heating • Remove and place in storage (3rd heating) • Spread on crop fields

30. Composting Poultry Mass Mortality Most pathogens and viruses killed at 135 – 155 °F

31. Average Nutrient Analysis for Poultry Mortality Compost & Poultry Litter* *NC State University data

32. Troubleshooting Guide for Carcass CompostingAdapted from the National Pork Producers Council Swine Mortality Composting Module

33. Troubleshooting Guide for Carcass CompostingAdapted from the National Pork Producers Council Swine Mortality Composting Module

34. Future update classes Contact local county extension office OR www.poultrywaste.okstate.edu