Why Compost?

Practical

Composting requires good management, but minimal training. Carcasses of all species and all sizes can be composted if properly managed and composting can be done all year long. Labour is minimal and potential problems are easily resolved.

Biosecure

Allows for immediate year round management of mortalities to ensure disease is not spread. High temperatures within a well managed compost pile kill bacterial pathogens such as salmonella and will inactivate most viruses. Composting eliminates many biosecurity problems as trucks do not enter the farm to dispose of livestock.

Cost effective

Low to moderate start up costs and minimal operating costs. The main cost is in building a composting structure whether it be a bin or a pad. Typically loaders already available on farm can be used to turn the pile. Bulking agents used in the pile such as straw, bedding, or litter are usually readily available on farm.

Environmentally sound

The finished compost can either be used as part of the bulking agent for the next pile or it can be spread on fields as a beneficial source of organic matter and nutrients.

According to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Since composting has not proven to destroy the presence of prion in Specific Risk Materials (SRM), composted SRM is still considered SRM. If carcasses or SRM are composted, the compost should not be spread on land grazed by ruminant livestock for the following five years.

Off-farm composting of SRM is subject to SRM disposal permitting requirements. Mass composting is only permitted if the CFIA has control of the end site of the SRM. The use of the end product of mass SRM composting (i.e. spreading on land not grazed by ruminant livestock for the following five years) will be permitted by the CFIA on a case-by-case basis.