By Blake Jackson
Farmers juggle numerous responsibilities to keep their operations running smoothly, and one often overlooked but critical task is the safe disposal of dead livestock. Unattended carcasses can become a source of disease, threatening entire herds or flocks.
To address this, University of Missouri researchers have been leading workshops across the state on proper composting techniques. Their efforts also informed a recent study showing that using measured amounts of wood chips, sawdust, and old compost can safely decompose carcasses while reducing the risk of disease spread.
“Whether it’s avian influenza or any number of disease outbreaks that can quickly wipe out thousands of farm animals, we ultimately want to help farmers improve their biosecurity practices so disease outbreaks don’t happen in the first place,” said Teng-Teeh Lim, extension professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
“In the past, a dead animal might just get thrown into the woods so nature could take care of it. But if that animal was diseased, that’s exactly how disease can spread.”
Lim and Mizzou graduate student Rana Das have conducted hands-on workshops demonstrating how to compost animal remains safely and efficiently.
“The goal is to raise the internal temperature inside the compost pile to 131 degrees Fahrenheit for at least three consecutive days so that all of the pathogens can be inactivated,” Das said.
“I was amazed to see that the farmers at these workshops were very interested in learning specific details about the proper method of constructing compost piles, particularly related to nitrogen and carbon ratios and moisture content. It was great to see them so engaged and gaining knowledge that they can take back to their farms.”
These workshops build on a decade-long collaboration between MU Extension, the Missouri Department of Agriculture, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to help farmers prevent disease outbreaks proactively.
In addition to composting, the sessions highlighted MU Extension’s Biosecurity Outreach Program, which includes a biosecurity trailer demonstrating the Danish Entry System. This system emphasizes hygiene practices such as hand sanitizing and wearing farm-dedicated shoes and clothing to limit pathogen exposure.
“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from farmers attending these workshops,” Lim said. “Through these community outreach efforts, we are making big impacts throughout Missouri, preparing our state to prevent outbreaks of disease.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-digitalvision
Categories: Missouri, Livestock