Best Management Practices - Carcass Disposal

Burial

Burial requires great care in site selection because as carcasses decompose, they release materials that can pollute ground water, particularly if large volumes are buried. This practice is most suitable for small amounts of material (e.g. less than 2000 lb./burial pit/acre).

Advantages

• Inexpensive (if own equipment).
• Biosecurity (No trucks coming from other farms to pick up carcasses).

Disadvantages

• Difficult in winter.
• Can cause groundwater pollution.
• Cannot bury where water table is within 10' of surface.

Recommendations

• Should not be used by large facilities or with catastrophic losses because the volume of carcasses may lead to groundwater pollution.
• Examine other alternatives for dead livestock disposal.

DO:

• Cover with three feet of dirt and stay five feet above the water table.
• Cover each day's deposits with a layer of dirt.
• Identify sites for worker safety.
• Bury immediately.

DON'T:

• Place in or near lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, wetlands, ditches or wells.
• Use as a dump for other farm garbage.
• Bury in areas with a high seasonal water table.
• Bury in "karst" or sandy areas.
• Bury in areas subject to surface water flooding.

Public Relations

Problems arise when using burial pits and from burying a carcass too near to a neighbor's well. The neighbors complain about burial pits when any smell comes from the farm; they assume it is from the pit or when carcasses are not properly covered each day and dogs or wild animals drag off parts of the carcasses.

References for more information

• Extension Service - University of Minnesota
  Dr. Sally Noll - (612) 624-4928
  
  
• Minnesota Board of Animal Health
  Dr. Bill Hartmann - (612) 296-2942
  
  
• Minnesota Pollution Control
  (Feed Lot Permits) (612) 296-6300
  
  
• Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
  (Wetlands) (612) 296-4800