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