LPT 312: Abattoir Practices and Animal Products Technology (1+1)

METHODS OF DISPOSAL OF CARCASSES

• Burial method
  • This is the most common method and is fairly safe if the burial pit is dug 2 meter deep or highest part of the carcass is atleast 1.5 meter below the level of surrounding terrain.
  • Besides the carcass, left over feed by the dead animal, its bedding, excreta and top 5 cm soil floor are also buried with the carcass.
  • Deep burial will prevent the jackals from digging up the carcass and insects from carrying the bacterial spores to the surface.
  • Once the carcass is in grave, the skin is slashed and drenched with crude phenol.
  • Then the carcass is covered on all sides with quick lime and filled with mud and topped with some concrete objects.
  • In case of anthrax, before removing the carcass for disposal, all its orifices are plugged with cotton soaked in 5% cresol and body is wrapped in similarly soaked bag.
  • The byre should be disinfected with 5% cresol using long handled brushes and then washed over with freshly chlorinated lime-wash.
• Burning or incineration methods
  • Burning can effectively destroy carcasses.
  • It can bee conveniently done in incinerator where a temperature of 600-800C is reached and all the organisms are destroyed.
  • This method is quite suitable for animals that have died due to heat resistant microorganisms such as spores of Bacillus anthracis.
  • If incinerator facility is not available, dead animals and other materials can be burnt in a pit, preferably dug near the site of death.
  • The pit or trench (about 0.5 meter deep) is first filled with wood, making air spaces with the help of cross iron bars.
  • Then the carcass is placed and ignited with the help of kerosene. After complete carcass is burnt, the trench is filled with mud.
• Chemical treatment
  • If the animals die from diseases, which do not pose a potential health hazard, the carcass can be disposed of by usual means.
  • Then the premises are treated with lime water (1:20) or with a suspension of bleaching powder (1:20).
  • An aqueous solution of cresol or phenol is preferable for metal parts.
• Disinfection
  • It is not enough to dispose of the animal died due to notifiable disease. All the related items and materials, which could serve as contaminating agents, are disinfected.
  • Bedding straw, manure etc., should be buried, burnt or disinfected by mixing with slaked lime.
  • Liquids such as blood, urine etc. should be disinfected with a 30% suspension of chloride of lime.
  • For walls, floors, doors and tools, cleansing with lime-water (1:20) or with a suspension of bleaching powder (1:20) may be used.
  • Metal tools or instruments of the abattoir may be disinfected by immersion in boiling water for this purpose.
  • A 3% solution of washing soda (sodium carbonate) can also be used. Besides, hooks, handles, covers etc. should be scrubbed in boiling water or solution of washing soda.