Dead carcasses disposal has become more complicated in Iowa as many rendering service plants have closed (from 26 in 1983 to 15 in 1994). Burial has been used also however this method is difficult in the winter and it can be potentially hazardous to shallow ground water. As changes occurred in the rules of on-farm solid waste disposal by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, disposing of dead stock can be made on farm using the composting process. No special sanitary disposal permit is needed if certain requirements are met and they are: – the composting is done with only the carcasses originating from the operation on this premises; – carcasses be placed in the composting material within 24 h. of the death and composting material has to cover the carcass to lower the risks of access to domestic and wild animals; – composting done in order to prevent leaching to surface or ground water, to control flies, rodents and other vermin; – compost is removed only when all the material has been well decomposed; – stabilized compost has to be applied to crop lands at agronomic rates within 12 months after the compost process is ended;- composter construction should be done with material that is resistant to weather and rot and capable to support normal composting operations; – an impervious weight-bearing surface has to be used for composting and this areas has to be located outside wetlands or 100-year flood plain, 100 ft from private wells, 200 feet from public wells, 50 ft from property lines, 500 ft from neighboring residences, 100 ft from flowing or intermittent streams, lakes or pond. The composting process is presented with the parameters that have to be controlled. Composting facilities for poultry and swine are presented with their characteristics. (references are made to C. Fulhage work).
For farrow-to-finish facilities, it is suggested to separate the small carcasses from the large ones as the small ones will degrade more rapidly resulting in mature compost more rapidly.