VPE 511: Environment and Environmental Hygiene (2+1)

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)
• Bio-security (No trucks coming From other farms to pick up carcasses)

Disadvantages

• Difficult in winter
• Can cause ground water pollution
• Cannot bury where water table is within 10 feet of surface

Recommendations

• Should not be used by large facilities or with catastrophic losses because the volume of carcasses may lead to ground water 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, steams, 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