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OH offering livestock mortality composting workshop


April 13, 2012  by Ohio State University Extension


April 13, 2011, Wooster, OH – A livestock mortality composting certification workshop will be offered April 19, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m. The program will be held at the Washington County Extension office in Marietta, OH.

The livestock industry is faced with discovering innovative and economical ways to dispose of mortality losses. This need has been brought on by the disappearance of rendering plants, concerns over potential ground water pollution from burial, and the economic and environmental issues of incineration. Composting of dead animals is an option that is available to all Ohio livestock producers. Composting is a natural process in which the animal carcass is bio-degraded by bacteria to avoid pollution of air and water.

The process of composting dead animals allows bacteria and fungi to decompose the animal carcasses in an aerobic environment. By providing oxygen to this environment, the microbes are able to decompose the animal without the production of objectionable odors and gasses. When done properly, composting destroys disease causing bacteria or viruses and reduces problems associated with flies, vermin, and scavenging animals at the composting site. Before beginning to compost livestock mortalities in Ohio, producers must attend a certification workshop offered by Ohio State University Extension.

Cost of the workshop is $20 per person. To register, contact Peggy (740-376-7431) in the Washington County OSU Extension office.

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