The Best Strategy to Compost Mortalities

When it comes to managing mortalities, it's not as simple as composting vegetation. The decomposition of a carcass can take anywhere from weeks to years, and bones can take even longer. But while the process may seem daunting, it doesn't have to be. With a few key strategies and considerations, you can effectively manage the mortality of animals on your property without causing harm to the environment or risking the spread of disease. In this blog post, we'll explore the best practices for managing mortalities and offer tips to make the process as efficient and effective as possible.

What are animal mortalities?

When we refer to animal mortalities, we are talking about any deceased livestock animal. This can include cows, pigs, chickens, lambs, and any other animals that are raised for food, fiber, or other agricultural purposes. Effective management of animal mortalities is important not only for the health and safety of the livestock and the environment but also for the economic well-being of farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole.

What are animal mortalities caused by?

Animal mortalities can be caused by a variety of factors, depending on the type of livestock, their age, and the farming system. Some of the most common causes of animal mortalities include disease, drought, natural disasters, and injuries.

Hogs

Mortalities in piglets can be caused by the sow crushing piglets, hypothermia, starvation, and the maternal behavior of the sow. Finishing pigs' mortalities can be caused by lung disease, gut conditions, infections, and injuries from other pigs.

Poultry

Mortalities in chicks can be caused by genetics, nutrition, management, and disease. Mortalities in broilers and laying hens can be caused by diseases, power failure, ventilation failure, heat stress, stampeding, and feed disruptions.

Cattle

Mortalities in calves are often due to calving difficulties, weather, disease, and injuries. The risk of death in calves can also be subject to not getting enough colostrum immediately after birth. Mortalities in cattle are often caused by bovine respiratory disease and in dairy cows, the deaths are usually related to culling, disease, and injury problems.

Lamb

Lamb mortalities also vary in different age groups and farming systems. These mortalities are commonly due to birth trauma, failure to adapt, infectious disease, functional disorders, predation, and lamb vigour.

Mortalities in livestock are unavoidable no matter what system you use, how careful you are, and how much experience you have as a livestock farmer. It is our responsibility to dispose of our mortalities in an environmentally safe and sanitary way to avoid biosecurity risks.

Problems with traditional ways of composting

Traditionally livestock farmers would manage their mortalities with rendering, incineration, burial, and bunker composting. In certain regions, dead animals must also be disposed of in a certain time frame. For example, in Alberta livestock farmers have 7 days to dispose of their dead animals in an acceptable manner.

Rendering

Rendering is a process in which animal mortalities are collected and processed to create various products such as animal feed, fertilizers, and biofuels. While rendering can effectively remove mortalities from a farm, there are some challenges associated with this method. Rendering can be quite expensive, particularly for smaller farms that may not produce enough mortalities to justify the cost of rendering. Additionally, the transportation and pick-up of the mortalities from the farm to the rendering facility can also add to the cost. There is a risk of disease transmission during the collection and transportation of mortalities. It is important to follow proper biosecurity measures when handling and transporting animal mortalities to prevent the spread of diseases. Lastly, rendering may not be the most environmentally friendly option as it requires a significant amount of energy to process and transport the mortalities.

Incineration

Incineration is another method to manage animal mortalities, at high temperatures until they are reduced to ash. While this method can be fast and effective, there are several factors to consider before deciding whether it is the right choice for a particular farm or facility. One of the primary concerns with incineration is the cost of setup and maintenance. Incineration facilities require specialized equipment, including burners and air control systems, which can be expensive to purchase and maintain. Additionally, incineration may require air permits, which can add to the cost and complexity of the process. Another factor to consider is the fuel cost associated with incineration. Burning materials at high temperatures requires a significant amount of fuel, which can be expensive and may contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the ash produced by incineration does not contain any fertilizer or other beneficial nutrients, which may be a consideration for farms looking to recycle the materials produced on-site.

Burial

Burial is a method of mortality disposal that involves burying animal mortalities in a designated area on the farm. While burial can be a cost-effective method of disposal, there are several challenges associated with this method that should be taken into consideration. One of the primary challenges with burial is that it may not be feasible during certain times of the year, particularly in colder climates where the ground may be frozen during the winter months. This can limit the ability to bury mortalities and may require alternative methods of disposal during the winter. Another concern with burial is the potential for groundwater contamination. If the burial site is not properly designed and maintained, there is a risk that fluids from the decomposing mortalities could leach into the surrounding soil and contaminate the groundwater. It is important to follow proper guidelines and regulations for burial to minimize this risk. Lastly, it is important to note that burial can take several years for the mortalities to fully decompose.

Bunker Composting

Bunker composting is a method of composting that involves constructing a composting area, often with concrete walls and floor, to contain and manage the composting process. This type of composting is usually done on a large scale and can be cost-effective compared to other methods. However, it does require proper setup and maintenance to ensure that the composting process is efficient and effective. One of the challenges with bunker composting is that it can be labor-intensive, particularly when it comes to turning the compost. Bunker composting involves layering organic waste materials and turning them periodically to ensure that they break down evenly and efficiently. This requires physical labor to move and mix the compost. Additionally, bunker composting requires a proper setup to be effective. The concrete pad and walls help to contain the composting process, while a cover helps to repel rain and prevent excess moisture from accumulating. Without these features, the composting process may be less efficient and may result in odors or other problems.

Why use the BIOvator to manage your mortalities?

The BIOvator® is a modern and innovative system that provides an alternative way of managing mortality in a more efficient and cost-effective manner for all scales of farms. Unlike traditional methods mentioned above. The BlOvator® is a sealed and sanitary steel system that utilizes a natural biological process to convert animal mortalities into valuable end products.

The BIOvator® provides an easy and hassle-free solution for managing mortalities. By placing animal mortalities in the BlOvator®, it ensures that they are handled in a safe, hygienic, and environmentally friendly way. This system is proven to be effective and has been adopted by many industries such as agriculture, poultry, and hogs.

In addition, the BlOvator® provides a valuable end product such as organic fertilizer that can be used for soil improvement. This is an added benefit for farmers as it reduces the cost of purchasing fertilizers and helps to maintain soil fertility. Proper disposal using the BIOvator® can avoid odor, scavengers, pathogens, excess nutrients, and the nuisance of leftover bones that may cause social issues and puncture tires.

Overall, the BlOvator® is an excellent alternative to traditional mortality management methods. It offers a more cost-effective, safe, and environmentally friendly solution for managing animal mortalities while providing a valuable end product. Contact our team and we would love to help you start composting your organic waste the right way.