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A NEW APPROACH FOR IN SITU POULTRY CARCASSES DISPOSAL: A CLOSED SEMI-CONTINUOUS COMPOSTER

Composting experiences have been developed to evaluate the availability of a composter to decompose animal carcasses. These experiences were conducted over a four year period with poultry, under different operational parameters (aeration cycles, composting recipes and temperatures). The amount of carcasses and co-composting materials added was recorded during each loading of the composter. Additionally, pH, conductivity and redox potential were recorded during composting processes, on a weekly basis, and for the final product. Samples for physico-chemical analyses were also taken. Gases released from the decomposing material (CO2, CH4, NO2 and NH3) were measured on a weekly basis by an automatic analyser. Temperatures of the material mass inside the composter and outside the composter were recorded continuously with Pt-100 sensors and a data logger device. Agricultural evaluation of the final product was determined by the procedure described by Zucconi et al. (1985). Composting has been shown to be effective in destruction of pathogenic agents. In order to minimize the environmental impacts, composting of animal mortalities should begin within 24-48 hours of death. For a carcass compost pile, a C:N ratio of 30-35:1, moisture content of 40-60% (wet basis by mass) and proper air movement (particle size of 3-12 mm and 35% air-filled porosity) provide thermophilic temperatures of 55-60°C for more than two weeks, accelerating aerobic degradation and pathogens inactivation. The experiences carried out with the closed semi-continuous composter developed at the University of Valladolid (Spain), have shown that this equipment is useful for small and medium carcasses disposal.