The Rural Voice, 2003-09, Page 60Advice
Tips on managing on-farm mortalities
By Ann Godkin
Veterinary Science, OMAF
(Adapted from the Managing On -
Farm Mortalities Infosheet, Gary
Koebel, Livestock Mortality
Specialist, OMAF and Composting
Dead Animals.)
All livestock producers are
responsible for disposing of livestock
mortalities in an environmentally
safe and timely manner. Under the
Ontario Dead Animal Disposal Act
(ODADA), all dead cattle, swine,
sheep, goats and horses must be
disposed of within 48 hours after
death.
There are currently three approved
methods for animal disposal:
1. Contact a provincially licensed
collector for pick up.
PATTI ROBERTSON'S
Unique Residential and
Commercial Interiors
135 Victoria St., WINGHAM
357-2872
• Custom-made Window
Fashions, Bedspreads
& Accessories
• Fine Domestic &
Imported Fabrics
• Select Wallcoverings
• Furnishings, Lighting
& Artwork to suit
any interior...
►'i1a►��.�:[�1�, [t [la
QUALITY • REPUTATION
HONESTY • VALUE
CANADA'S
#1 SELLING
STAINLESS STEEL
OUTDOOR FURNACE
1-800-261-0531
56 THE RURAL VOICE
2. Compost.
3. Bury the animal under 60 cm (2
feet) of soil away from all
waterways.
On-farm incineration is not an
approved method of deadstock
disposal.
Not abiding by the ODADA
regulations can result in a fine.
Penalties for a first offence can be up
to $2000. A subsequent offence can
result in a fine of up to $5000 or a
jail term of up to 6 months.
Helpful resources on composting for
you or your clients include:
• Composting Livestock Mortalities,
OMAF Factsheet by J.R. Moms, T.
O'Connor, F. Kains and H. Fraser.
www.gov.on.ca/OMAF/english/livest
ock/sheep/facts/97-001.htm
• Natural Rendering: Composting
Livestock Mortality and Butcher
Waste. Cornell Waste Management
Institute. Factsheet by Jean
Bonhotal, Lee Telega and Joan
Petzen. www.cfe.cornell.edu/wmi or
call (607) 255-1187.
• Field Guide to On -Farm
Composting. NRAES publication
#114 by Dougherty. This is a 128 -
page booklet and covers everything
in an exceptionally useable format.
To order, refer to www.nraes.org or
call (607) 255-7654. Additional
resources are available on this web
site.
• Cow Mortality Disposal (AG -507)
by Clell V. Bagley, John H. Kirk and
Kitt Farrell -Poe.
http://www.ext.usu.edu/publica/agpu
bs/ag507.pdf
If you are unable to access any of
these publications, please call the
Fergus Resource Centre (519) 846-
0941.0
The Rural Voice
welcomes your opinions
for our Feedback letters
to the editor column.
Mail to: The Rural Voice,
PO Box 429, Blyth, ON NOM 1H0