Soil Conservation Service s2

316 - 1

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD

ANIMAL MORTALITY FACILITY (No.)

CODE 316

DEFINITION CRITERIA An on-farm facility for the treatment or disposal General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes of livestock and poultry carcasses. Laws and Regulations systems for animal mortality facilities must be planned, designed, PURPOSE and constructed to meet all federal, state and local regulations. This includes the Illinois This practice may be applied as part of a Livestock Management Act and provisions of conservation management system to support Title 35E, State of Illinois Rules and one or more of the following purposes: Regulation.  Decrease non-point source pollution of The facility shall be designed to handle normal surface and groundwater resources mortality and/or catastrophic mortality.  Reduce the impact of odors that result The planning and design of animal mortality from improperly handled animal mortality facilities or processes must conform to all  Decrease the likelihood of the spread of federal, State and local laws, rules and disease or other pathogens that result from the regulations. This includes provisions for interaction of animal mortality and predators closing and/or removing the facility where required.  To provide contingencies for normal and catastrophic mortality events All structural components integral to animal mortality management shall meet the structural loads and design criteria as described in CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES NRCS conservation practice standard 313, This practice applies where animal carcass Waste Storage Facility, unless otherwise treatment or disposal must be considered as a designated. component of a waste management system for Where an animal mortality facility can be livestock or poultry operations. It applies damaged by surface runoff, the runoff shall be where on-farm carcass treatment and disposal diverted away from the facility. are permitted by federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations. It also applies where a Location. The location shall minimize the waste management system plan as described impact of the facility on odor and other air in the National Engineering Handbook (NEH), quality issues affecting neighboring Part 651, Agricultural Waste Management residences, as well as minimizing the impact of Field Handbook (AWMFH) has been the facility on surface and ground water developed that accounts for the end use of the resources. In addition, the facility, where product from the mortality facility. This practice practical, shall be generally down gradient from includes disposal of both normal and a spring or well. catastrophic animal mortality; however, it does The animal mortality facility shall be located not apply to catastrophic mortality resulting outside the 100 year floodplain; however if site from disease. restrictions require location within a floodplain,

Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated if needed. To obtain NRCS, NHCP the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service. March 2003 316 - 2 they shall be protected from inundation or best results, the temperature of the carcasses damage. shall be maintained between 220 and 260 F. The location of the animal mortality facility shall Capacity. Freezer units shall be sized to be consistent with the overall site plan for the accommodate the normal maximum volume of livestock or poultry operation. mortality to be expected in the interval between emptying. Volume calculations shall include Seepage Control. Where seepage from the expected mortality rate of the animal, the mortality facilities will create a potential water period of time between emptying where quality problem and it is deemed necessary to mortality is given on a per day basis, the reduce seepage, use AWMFH, Appendix 10D, average weight of the animal between for clay liner design criteria, or other emptying, and a conversion factor for weight to acceptable liner technology. volume. For broiler operations use a weight to Criteria Applicable to All Purposes – volume conversion of a minimum of 45 pounds Normal Mortality per cubic foot. Capacity calculations shall be supported by a removal schedule supplied by The facility shall be located as close to the an integrator or approved vendor. source of mortality as practical, considering bio-security issues and the need to keep the Power Source. An alternative source of facility out of sight of the general public. power, where available, shall be used to maintain the integrity of the freezing process Composters. during power outages. Where an alternative General. Design of facilities for composting power source will not be available, the animal mortality shall conform to conservation operation and maintenance plan shall contain practice standard 317, Composting Facility, or contingencies for disposal of the poultry the guidance in National Engineering mortality. Handbook Part 637, Chapter 2 – Composting Disposal Pit. (NEH 637.0211, Dead Animal Composting). General. Disposal pits shall not be located on Freezers. sites with: General. Freezer units shall be of the chest 1) highly permeable soils or over fractured or type with a construction compatible with the cavernous bedrock within two feet of the mechanism to be used to empty the freezer. bottom of the pit unless an approved liner Provisions for protecting the freezer unit from is used, or precipitation and direct sun shall be made as deemed appropriate. 2) soils with a seasonal high water table less than two feet from the bottom of the pit. The freezer unit design, construction, power source, and unit installation shall be in Size and Capacity. Pits shall be sized to accordance with manufacturer's accommodate the normal mortality in recommendations. Freezers shall be accordance with criteria acceptable to state constructed of durable material with a life and local regulatory agencies. The disposal pit expectancy compatible with other aspects of shall be a minimum of 4 feet wide and 4 feet the waste management system. The freezer long. No minimum depth is required, but the container shall be leakproof to minimize odor selected depth shall accommodate 2 feet of and leachate pollution. cover over the mortality. Multiple pits shall be separated by a minimum of three feet of Where needed, the freezer will be placed on a undisturbed or compacted soil. pad of suitable strength to withstand loads imposed with vehicular traffic consistent with Structural Loading and Design. Vehicular equipment used to load or remove the box or traffic shall not be allowed within four feet of tray. the pit structure. Fences or other barriers shall be used to exclude vehicles where necessary. Temperature. The freezers shall be self- contained units designed to freeze animal The disposal pit shall be cased with masonry carcasses before decomposition occurs. For blocks, treated timber, or a pre-cast concrete NRCS, Illinois April, 2004 316 - 3 DRAFT #2 septic tank conforming to American Society of six inches are required between the incinerator Testing Materials (ASTM) C1227-00b Standard chimney and any combustible roof parts. Specification for Pre-cast Septic Tanks. In all Criteria Applicable to All Purposes – cases, the bottom of the pit shall remain Catastrophic Mortality exposed to the soil. If the pre-cast septic tank is used, it shall be fabricated with three 6-inch General. Processes addressed by this openings in each end, and five six inch standard shall be limited to burial and openings in each side. When masonry block composting. Catastrophic mortality shall be are used, every fourth block in each course collected as soon as practical and moved away shall be laid sideways (openings toward the from the production facility. outside) except the top and bottom courses. Location. The facility shall be located as far The bottom course shall be on a reinforced away from neighboring dwellings and the concrete footing of at least one foot wide and poultry or livestock operation as site conditions six inches thick. When treated timbers are permit. Locate on sites with restricted used for walls, a one-inch spacing shall be left percolation and a minimum of two feet between timbers. between the bottom of the facility and the For pits that are four to five feet deep, a step or seasonal high water table unless special bench 18 inches wide and one-foot deep shall design features are incorporated that address be dug around the perimeter of the main pit so seepage rates and non-encroachment of the remaining vertical wall shall not exceed contaminants into the water table. Use four feet. For pits greater than five feet deep, AWMFH Appendix 10D for selection of sites the earthen wall shall be sloped back at 1 1/2 where seepage will be restricted with normal horizontal and 1 vertical or flatter. construction techniques. The top of a disposal pit shall be covered with Burial Pit a slab constructed of reinforced concrete or General. Catastrophic mortality resulting from treated timber having an appropriately sized natural conditions such as temperature hole for a drop chute. A pit over eight feet long extremes shall be buried on-site or as shall have drop chutes every five feet and a otherwise directed by state and local regulatory minimum of two drop chutes. The drop chutes agencies. Burial of catastrophic mortality shall shall be appropriately covered and made of be timed to minimize the effects of mortality drainage tile, or concrete, clay, or polyvinyl expansion during early stages of the decay chloride (PVC) pipe. A ten-inch opening is process. Where possible and permitted by recommended for chickens, and a twelve-inch state law, mortality shall remain uncovered or opening for turkeys and suckling pigs. lightly covered until bloating has occurred, or Incinerators. methods employed to reduce or eliminate bloating. Topsoil shall be retained to re-grade General. Incinerators shall be dual burning the disposal site after the ground has settled Type 4 (human and animal remains) approved as the decay process is completed. Stockpiled for use within the state. soil shall be no closer than 20 feet from the Capacity. Minimum incinerator capacity shall edge of the burial pit. be based on the average daily weight of animal Size and Capacity. Pits shall be sized to mortality and the length of time the incinerator accommodate catastrophic mortality using will be operated each day. appropriate weight to volume conversions. Capacity shall be in accordance with criteria Location. The incinerator shall be located a acceptable to state and local regulatory minimum of 20 feet from any structure. The agencies. The burial pit shall be a minimum of incinerator shall be placed on a concrete pad 4 feet wide with length necessary to with the fuel source as distant as practical. If accommodate mortality. Depth shall the incinerator is covered with a roof, at least accommodate a minimum of 2 feet of cover over the mortality. Pit bottoms shall be

NRCS, NHCP

November 2001 316 - 4 relatively level. Lengths may be limited by soil should be 200 feet from a well, spring, or water suitability and slope. If more than one pit is course. required, they shall be separated by a Runoff from the livestock or poultry facility, or minimum of three feet of undisturbed or from outside areas should be diverted away compacted soil. The burial site shall be of from the animal mortality disposal facility. sufficient volume to contain the mortality with a minimum of two feet of soil cover. The burial Composting of poultry mortality will be site shall be finish graded to slightly above hindered if the bird carcasses are allowed to natural ground elevation to accommodate freeze. Birds should be kept in a dry, non- settling. freezing environment until added to the compost mix. Structural Loading and Design. Vehicular traffic shall not be allowed within four feet of Facility sizes for composting large animal the pit edge. carcasses should reflect the longer compost periods required. For pits that are four to five feet deep, a step or bench 18 inches wide and one foot deep will The following table lists factors that could be be dug around the perimeter of the main pit so used in determining minimum daily weight of the remaining vertical wall will not exceed four animal mortality when sizing incinerators: feet. For pits greater than five feet deep, the earthen wall shall be sloped back at 1 1/2 TYPE OF ANIMAL DAILY LOSS FACTOR horizontal and 1 vertical or flatter. (pounds/day/animal) Composting Chicken: General. Catastrophic mortality composting Broilers 0.0024 shall be in either passive piles or windrows as Laying hens 0.0014 described in National Engineering Handbook Breeding hens 0.0019 Part 637, Chapter 2 – Composting (NEH Breeder, male 0.0082 637.0210 and NEH 637.0211). Turkeys: Hen 0.0081 Composting mortality shall be protected from Tom, light 0.0193 precipitation as necessary, or provisions made Tom, feather production 0.0286 for collecting contaminated runoff. Static piles Swine: or windrows covered with sawdust, finished compost, or other benign material will not need Suckling pigs 0.0400 further protection. (per sow) Poultry operations often experience higher CONSIDERATIONS rates of mortality as the birds reach maturity. The capacity of incinerators should be sized to Major considerations in planning animal insure the mortality of the large birds can be mortality management are: handled within the time frame allowed for  Available equipment at the operation, incineration.  The management capabilities of the An alternative to prevent bloating of operator, catastrophic mortality die off could include  The degree of pollution control required by opening animal thoracic and abdominal state and local agencies, cavities and viscera prior to placing required  The economics of the available cover. alternatives, and  Effect on neighbors. Incineration produces varying quantities of ash that will need to be properly handled. Consideration should be given to prevailing wind direction and neighbors when siting Vegetative screens and topography can be animal mortality disposal facilities. A minimum used to shield the animal disposal facility from of 900 feet should separate the facility from the public view, and to minimize visual impact. nearest neighboring residence, and the facility NRCS, Illinois April, 2004 316 - 5 DRAFT #2

State requirements for record keeping vary. Burial of catastrophic mortality shall be timed Items such as burial site location, type and to minimize the effects of mortality expansion quantity of mortality, burial date, and other during early stages of the decay process. pertinent details should be noted at the time of Where possible and permitted by state law, burial. mortality shall remain uncovered or lightly covered until bloating has occurred. Some Operators should maintain a list of current topsoil shall be retained to re-grade the phone numbers for state and local officials to disposal site after the ground has settled as aid in notification if disease-related the decay process is largely completed. catastrophic mortality occurs. Where composting is used for catastrophic Safety devices such as fencing, warning signs, mortality disposal, the operation and and freezer locks may be necessary at certain maintenance plan shall identify the most likely sites. compost medium, possible compost recipes, Bio-security concerns should be addressed in operational information, and equipment that all aspects of planning, installation, and will need to be readily available. operation and maintenance of an Animal Mortality Facility. PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS Ground disturbing activities such as excavation Plans and specifications for animal mortality and site preparation for disposal facilities have facilities shall be in keeping with this standard the potential to affect significant cultural and shall describe the requirements for resources. applying this practice to achieve its intended purpose. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE An operation and maintenance plan applicable REFERENCES to this practice that includes, but is not limited Agricultural Waste Management Field to, the items listed below will be developed Handbook (AWMFH) with the operator, and will become a part of the overall waste management system plan. The National Engineering Handbook, Part 637, requirements in the individual operation and Chapter 2, Composting maintenance plan shall be consistent with the NRCS GM 420 Part 401 – Cultural Resources practice purposes, intended life, and design criteria. Safety considerations shall be NRCS National Handbook of Conservation prominently displayed in the plan. Practices Normal Mortality ASTM C1227-00b Standard Specification for Animal mortality facilities will normally be Pre-cast Septic Tanks operated or used on a daily basis. At each operation or use, the facility shall be inspected to note any maintenance needs or indicators of operation problems.

Catastrophic Mortality Possible locations for catastrophic animal mortality facilities shall be located during the planning process to be operated as needed.

NRCS, NHCP

November 2001