Carcass Disposal Options

The enormous, complex, and relatively open nature of the US animal agriculture and food system, combined with its economic importance, makes it a potential target for a terrorist attack. Furthermore, vulnerability to catastrophic losses due to disease outbreaks, regardless of whether accidental or intentionally introduced, is accentuated by the ever-increasing concentration of modern animal production operations and the tremendous mobility of food-animal populations. In the event of an animal agriculture emergency involving widespread livestock deaths, the disposal of large numbers of carcasses can present daunting challenges. This article presents an overview of key attributes of several carcass disposal options, including burial, landfill, incineration, rendering, composting, and alkaline hydrolysis. The most appropriate disposal option—or options—in the event of an emergency will be determined by a host of factors, including the nature of the incident, the animal species affected, the type of disease (if disease related), the number of carcasses involved, the availability and capacity of disposal options, and other considerations unique to individual locations. Planning for carcass disposal well in advance of an emergency will help responders minimize the impact of an incident and maximize protection of public health and the environment. Keywords: carcass disposal; burial; landfill; air-curtain incineration; composting; rendering; alkaline hydrolysis