CONTENT
Disposal and Utilization of Carcasses in Livestock Farms
Disposal and utilization of carcasses refer to the safe handling, destruction, or processing of dead animal bodies to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and environmental contamination.
The primary purpose of the safe disposal and utilization of carcasses is to check the spread of disease either to other susceptible animals or humans. Carcasses of animals may be disposed of by sending them to knackeries or by burial or burning.
NOTE
Disposal and utilization of carcasses are important biosecurity practices in livestock farms. Improper disposal of dead animals may lead to the spread of infectious diseases, environmental pollution, foul odour, and contamination of water sources. Various methods such as burial, burning, rendering, and incineration are used for safe carcass disposal in veterinary practice.
Burial of Carcasses
A suitable site should be selected. The burial place must be distant from a well or watercourse, and there should be sufficient subsoil to allow a depth of 6 feet above the carcass.
The carcass must be buried in its skin and be covered with a sufficient quantity of quicklime or other disinfectants. The dead animal should be arranged on its back with its feet upwards. The skin is slashed inside the pit in all cases except in the case of anthrax.
As the smell of the carcass may attract foxes and dogs, the burial area needs to be disinfected with coal tar, which will act as a deterrent for a sufficient length of time.
Incineration/Cremation/Burning of Carcasses
Incineration or burning of carcasses is a method of disposal in which dead animals are completely burned to destroy pathogenic microorganisms and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
There are four methods of cremation:
- Pit method
- Surface burning method
- Flame gun method
- Incineration in a destructor
1. Pit Method
For the carcass of a large cow, a pit measuring about 7 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 18 inches deep is dug. A trench about 9 inches wide and 9 inches deep is then dug across the bottom of the pit, with both ends sloping upwards to reach ground level about 2.5 feet from the edge of the pit. The object of this trench is to provide draught and to facilitate the lighting of the fire.
The fire may be laid in the following sequence:
- Fill the trench with straw soaked with paraffin to provide lighting points.
- Place a few pieces of heavy timber, iron rails at intervals across the ventilation trench so as to prevent its obstructions.
- Cover bottom of pit with thin pieces of wood
- Add large pieces of wood
- Saturate with paraffin
- Add coal
The fire is started by lighting the straw at one or both ends of the lighting points.
2. Surface Burning Method
The surface burning method can usefully be adopted when labour is scarce or when the nature of the ground is not suitable for the construction of a pit, i.e., when the land is waterlogged.
- Two parallel trenches about 5 feet long, 9 inches wide, and 9 inches deep, and 2 feet apart, are dug in the direction of the prevailing wind at the site selected for cremation.
- The carcass is placed over the trenches.
- Coal is placed on and around the carcass.
- Wood is soaked with paraffin.
- A small quantity of paraffin saturated straw is added, the fire is then lit.
3. Flame Gun Method
No pit or trench is required in the flame gun method. The carcass is placed on the ground or a corrugated iron sheet, and a powerful flame directed towards it destroys the carcass. The time taken depends on the number of flame guns used and the size of the animals.
4. Incineration in a Destructor
Incineration in a destructor is a method of carcass disposal in which dead animals and contaminated materials are completely burned at high temperatures inside a specially designed furnace called a destructor or incinerator.
Importance of Proper Carcass Disposal
- Prevents disease spread
- Protects human health
- Prevents water contamination
- Controls foul odour
- Prevents scavenger attraction
