The Kansas Pork Association is working to provide information to producers on issues that affect their future profitability. Livestock operations must be in tune with an increased variety of environmental regulations. Below are links to the state agencies that require permits.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is the main state agency responsible for overseeing the livestock industry. Their website includes the contact information for the agency's district offices as well as information needed to apply for a new permit or renew your existing permit. Kansas law also mandates that pork producers with operations over 1,000 animal units must file Nutrient Utilization Plans.
Livestock operations with over 1,000 head must apply for a feedlot permit from the Kansas Animal Health Department. Their website also includes information on the regulations pertaining to movement of swine across state lines.
Livestock producers using above a certain amount of water for stockwatering purposes must obtain a water permit from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. The Division of Water Resources has four field offices.
Introduction
Composting is a recycling process where bacteria and fungi decompose organic
material in an aerobic environment. Organic wastes (in this case livestock
mortalities) are transformed by bacteria into a soil-like material similar to
humus.
Composting generally occurs in two stages. The primary stage is characterized
by a high rate of biological activity, rapid decomposition, and high
temperatures. This is when most of the organic breakdown occurs. During the
secondary stage, biological activity decreases as do temperatures resulting in
slower decomposition. During this stage biological activity ends and the mixture
stabilizes. Depending on size and number of carcasses, the entire composting
process takes about 6 months.
Environmental Considerations
Composting should be done with the following environmental protection goals
in mind:
• Protect ground and surface waters from pollution.
• Maintain air quality.
• Reduce the risk of disease transmission.
• Prevent nuisances such as scavenging animals, vermin, and flies.
Advantages of Composting
• Conserves nutrients contained in dead animals.
• Low odor.
• Research indicates that extreme heat kills most pathogens; but not bovine
spongiform encephalopathy.
• Low risk of air or water pollution.
Disadvantages of Composting
• High initial cost.
• Labor intensive.
• Regular monitoring and maintenance are required.
• Requires cropland or plan for use of finished compost.
Composting Site Selection
To minimize the potential for environmental damage, select a site away from
streams, ponds, drainage ditches, wells, or any direct conduit to groundwater.
The site should be well drained and accessible during all types of weather. Any
runoff from the composter should be treated through a vegetative filter strip or
infiltration area before it reaches a water resource. Diverting water away from
the compost pile minimizes the amount of runoff generated by the compost site.
The site should be located on high ground well out of flood-plain areas.
The base of the compost site should be soil with low permeability. If low
permeability is not achievable, a plastic liner (6 mil) can be used for the base.
Although composting does not usually generate odors, regularly handling
and composting dead animals may be offensive to neighbors. Site the facilitydownwind (according to prevailing
winds) from neighboring residences.
Consider visibility and location of
traffic patterns required for moving
dead animals to the composter, adding
amendments, and removing finished
compost.
An adjacent storage area for
composter ingredients (sawdust,
straw, crop residue) will eliminate
the need to transport mendments
from a distance. Site the composter
near a water supply to ease moisture
regulation in the pile.
Material Mix
The proper compost mix requires a
balanced source of energy (carbon)
and nutrients (primarily nitrogen),
proper moisture levels, and a stable
porous structure to minimize odors
and create an environment where
microorganisms will flourish.
Animal carcasses are the nitrogen
source so adding large amounts
of carbon creates an environment
for proper omposting. Generally,
a carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio
between 15:1 to 35:1 is satisfactory.
Amendments containing a high
C:N ratio or C content must be added
to create optimal conditions for
composting.
Plant materials such as wood
chips, sawdust, or straw are ideal
amendments for on-farm composting.
The moisture content of the compost
mixture should be 50 to 60 percent.
Ideally 35 to 50 percent of the pile
volume would be small open spaces to
allow air movement.
Water is necessary for microorganisms’
chemical reactions.
A moisture level of about 45
percent creates a good composting
environment. Use a hay moisture
probe to monitor moisture levels.
Compost should feel moist but not
saturated.
Composters using straw or other crop
residues may need to be in a roofed
structure to keep rain from leaching
through the pile and creating runoff.
While a roof will reduce excess
moisture from rainfall, it may require
the addition of water to the pile to
keep the microorganisms active.
Temperature
Aerobic bacteria in the composting
process grow at two temperature
ranges: mesophilic (middle
temperature) up to 100 degrees F; and
thermophilic (high temperature) up to
150 degrees F.
Bacteria break-down in the materials
generates heat and causes the
temperature to rise. As the pile warms,
different bacteria will grow at the
higher temperatures. The mass of
composting material will be more
active and organic material will break
down faster at higher temperatures.
However, above 150 degrees F, the
rate of composting will decrease
as bacteria are inactivated or even
destroyed by excessive temperatures.
As the warm air rises out of of the
pile, fresh air is drawn in. This process
exhausts carbon dioxide (CO2)
created in the pile and maintains an
aerobic environment for the bacteria.
Temperatures that remain above 130
degrees F for three days will destroy
disease-causing bacteria in the pile,
resulting in disease-free compost for
land application.
The composting process regulates
its own temperature. However, to
maintain high temperatures for the
required amount of time, the pile
must have some insulation. A layer of
inactive material (sawdust or finished
compost) placed over the entire pile
will insulate it. The insulation layer
should be a foot or more deep.
Composter Design
Composting ingredients should
be stored in “bins” in the correct
proportions for the size of mortalities
being composted. Compost bins or
structures are typically designed for a
three-month storage and composting
cycle.
Outside composting bins can be
constructed from large bales (5 ft. to
6 ft. in diameter) of low-quality hay.
Place bales end-to-end to form walls
for three-sided enclosures (bins).
In addition to providing a compost
structure, the bales will help deter
pests and absorb runoff.
A minimum of two bins are required
for primary and secondary composting
phases. However, more bins may be
necessary on larger operations. Avoid
excessively large bins.
Field experience with swine
composting suggests 1.25 to 1.5
square feet of bin area per sow is
necessary for composting. A 100-
sow herd would require 125 to 150
square feet of area in the primary and
secondary composting bins.
Another method for determining
bin size is to use the basis of 10
to 12 square feet of bin space per
1,000 pounds of carcass composted
annually. For example, 10,000 pounds
of death loss annually would require a composter with 100 to 120 square feet
each for the primary and secondary
bins. Consider providing an additional
bin(s) for storage of sawdust or crop
residue.
Bin configuration is not critical, but
bins should be laid out so the contents
are easily accessible with a front-end
or skid steer loader. Square bins offer
the greatest opportunity for reduced
side effects (e.g. heat loss through
walls). However, long narrow bins
with access through both ends have
been used. Primary and secondary
bins should be located adjacent to
each other to facilitate moving the
compost.
Biosecurity
Control of pathogens and disease
transmission is critical at livestock
operations. Traffic patterns to and
from the composter must be evaluated
for biosecurity implications.
The composting process will destroy
most diseases; however bacteria and
viruses from fresh carcasses can be
passed through the transport vehicle
back to production areas.
It must also be noted that animals
infected with transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies should
not be composted because the
infectious agents are still present after
composting.
Farm employees should be trained in
biosecurity implications of operation
and traffic control of the composter.
Scavenging animals and vermin also
must be kept from the compost pile.
Maintaining the recommended cover
over the pile should reduce pest
problems. Fencing may have to be
installed if scavenging animals cause
problems.
Other composting information -
University of Missouri - Composting of Dead Swine
The Ohio State University - Swine Composting Facility Design