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2nd Year Observations of a Shallow Burial of Livestock Mortalities Trial
Authors: Crystal Rinas,
Terrance Fonstad,
David Cook,
Darren Stovin
Identifier: CSBE23136
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Published in: CSBE-SCGAB Technical Conferences » AGM Lethbridge 2023
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Description: The intent of this project is to determine if shallow burial is a viable option for disposal of livestock mortalities in Saskatchewan. The need for alternative methods of deadstock disposal arises from the high costs of other disposal methods. Above ground burial appears to be an alternative that is economical, practical, environmentally secure, and socially acceptable. For this trial, two sites with different soils were selected. Background soil geochemical samples were collected prior to burial. Swine were buried in the trenches according to size between two layers of straw. Soil moisture and temperature probes were installed in the trenches and scavenger activity was monitored with trail cameras. In 2022, the burial trial continued into its second year. Preventative measures were required to discourage scavenging and these measures proved to be effective. Geochemical results show that ion concentrations in the soil were elevated compared to background levels. When composting began, the carcass temperatures were higher than background but did not reach temperatures higher than 30.2 ?C, which is not sufficient for virus deactivation. In November 2022, the shallow burial trench in both locations were opened using a backhoe to assess carcass degradation. The carcasses in the north trench were further along in terms of decomposition. Large bones were observable but smaller bones were not. At the south site, in the feeder location, it seemed that some of the feeder carcasses were drying out, compared to decomposing. One more geochemical sampling campaign will be completed in the Spring of 2023.
Keywords: livestock mortalities, mortalities management, composting
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Date: 2023-07-23
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Conference name: CSBE/SCGAB 2023 Annual Conference, Lethbridge, Alberta, 23-26 July 2023.
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Type: Presentation
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Publication type: Text.Abstract
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Relation:
Coverage: North_America
Language 1: en
Language 2:
Rights: Canadian Society for Bioengineering
Notes:
Other files:
DOI:
Description: The intent of this project is to determine if shallow burial is a viable option for disposal of livestock mortalities in Saskatchewan. The need for alternative methods of deadstock disposal arises from the high costs of other disposal methods. Above ground burial appears to be an alternative that is economical, practical, environmentally secure, and socially acceptable. For this trial, two sites with different soils were selected. Background soil geochemical samples were collected prior to burial. Swine were buried in the trenches according to size between two layers of straw. Soil moisture and temperature probes were installed in the trenches and scavenger activity was monitored with trail cameras. In 2022, the burial trial continued into its second year. Preventative measures were required to discourage scavenging and these measures proved to be effective. Geochemical results show that ion concentrations in the soil were elevated compared to background levels. When composting began, the carcass temperatures were higher than background but did not reach temperatures higher than 30.2 ?C, which is not sufficient for virus deactivation. In November 2022, the shallow burial trench in both locations were opened using a backhoe to assess carcass degradation. The carcasses in the north trench were further along in terms of decomposition. Large bones were observable but smaller bones were not. At the south site, in the feeder location, it seemed that some of the feeder carcasses were drying out, compared to decomposing. One more geochemical sampling campaign will be completed in the Spring of 2023.
Keywords: livestock mortalities, mortalities management, composting
Résumé:
Mots-clés:
Citation:
Volume:
Issue:
Pages -
Contributor:
Date: 2023-07-23
Technical field:
Conference name: CSBE/SCGAB 2023 Annual Conference, Lethbridge, Alberta, 23-26 July 2023.
Session name:
Other information:
Type: Presentation
Format:
Publication type: Text.Abstract
Source:
Relation:
Coverage: North_America
Language 1: en
Language 2:
Rights: Canadian Society for Bioengineering
Notes:
Other files:
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