Emergency Livestock Disposal Home

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Project in Detail
Background
Objectives
Composting System Tested
Research Methods
Preliminary Results
Project Sponsors & Contacts

Draft Guidelines for Emergency Cattle Mortality Composting

Link to  ISU Swine Mortality Composting Website

COMPOSTING SYSTEM TESTED

Which composting methods and equipment have the best potential for successful application by livestock producers during an animal mortality disposal emergency?

Time the Most Critical Factor

Time is the most critical factor during an animal mortality disposal emergency.  The longer that diseased carcasses are exposed to wind, runoff, insects, and predators, the greater the potential for disease transmission to healthy animals, or for serious environmental (air, water) contamination.

Windrow Composting System Selected for Testing

Recognizing the extreme importance of rapid carcass containment, a windrow composting system, like that illustrated below, was selected for testing.  Windrows are easy to construct using tractor- or skid-type loaders found on most livestock farms.  And, stockpiles of livestock feed  (hay, silage) or bedding materials (cornstalks, oat straw, soybean straw, even moderately dry feedlot manure) can be used to quickly envelope carcasses, thereby reducing the potential for release of odors, pathogens, or liquids.

In Brief

- The most critical goals in emergency mortality disposal is immediate carcass containment to retain disease causing pathogens, odors, and contaminated liquids. 

- Windrow composting was selected for testing because windrows can be quickly constructed using equipment and  materials available on dairy and cattle farms.