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A yellow payloader covers an animal mortality with bulking material (manure), on top of a two-foot thick carbon (straw) base. Large round hay bales are in the background.
Photo Credit:
Mary Keena
Title

Creating Direction from Disasters

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This past summer I was able to co-lead a training at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center for emergency response preparedness for foreign animal diseases and mass livestock mortalities in North Dakota. The trainings, made possible by a grant from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, were held in June and September. Participants learned about animal diseases, biosecurity, personal protective equipment and decontamination, incident command systems, humane animal endings, carcass disposal, producer sustainability, stress management, and effective communication during a disease outbreak or mass mortality event. The audience for the training was a combination of private practice and federal veterinarians, veterinary technicians, North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality employees, Extension agents, public health employees, county emergency managers, and brand inspectors. There were 65 total participants. Of the 57 participants who responded to the post-training evaluation:

  • 100% indicated the training increased their confidence responding to an animal disease or mass livestock mortality. 
  • Every topic was rated as either moderately or highly useful. 
  • Every participant responded that the training improved their ability to respond to an animal disease and mass livestock mortality.
  • 93% said the training improved their ability to provide support to individuals in high stress situations. 

While we look at the numbers above and feel a bit of pride in a training well executed by a dedicated team, we also see the real-life implications of it being applied each year in the agriculture industry. We haven’t experienced a season since 2019 (when I became actively engaged in this work) where disease, disaster or mass mortality working knowledge hasn’t been needed. The most recent example being the wildfires in North Dakota. 

Livestock losses are often an unfortunate part of the diseases and disasters that we face. As fire danger decreases and winter-like weather moves in, I wanted to share some animal carcass disposal options that work in mass mortality or normal mortality situations. 

  • If you need to talk to someone about stress management or mental health call 2-1-1 anytime. More information on North Dakota First Link can be found here: https://myfirstlink.org/.
  • Prior to any carcass disposal action, documentation of loss is critical. 
    • The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) which offers payments to eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather. For more information visit fsa.usda.gov/disaster.
    • Check with your farm insurance provider as well. They may require a specific type of documentation of loss. 
  • In North Dakota, animals that die for any reason must be disposed of in an approved method within 36 hours of death. Burial, composting, landfilling, incineration and rendering are all approved methods of carcass disposal.
  • Burying, composting or landfilling may be the easiest options for carcass disposal. If the disposal of carcasses exceeds the producer’s typical carcass management resources, or for large numbers of carcasses, contact the Department of Environmental Quality for technical assistance selecting an appropriate disposal site.
  • If you are going to bury, be sure carcasses are placed 4 feet above the water table with 4 feet of cover, and avoid surface water such as streams or wetlands. If possible, bury livestock in clay soils. 
  • Composting is a naturally occurring process using resources already on your operation in which the carcass is broken down into basic elements (organic matter) by microorganisms, bacteria and fungi. 
  • Dispose of carcasses at an approved municipal solid waste landfill. Search “DEQ ND municipal solid waste landfills” to find an approved landfill. Contact the landfill to determine if they will accept the carcasses and what their specific disposal protocols are.
  • A video containing livestock disposal information can be found on the NDSU Extension YouTube channel by searching “livestock disaster mortality disposal methods.” 

You can always contact me (Mary.Keena@ndsu.edu or 701-652-2951) or your local Extension agent (ndsu.ag/countyoffice) with animal mortality disposal questions.

Mary Keena
Mary.Keena@ndsu.edu
Extension Specialist, Livestock Environmental Management