Primary compost piles are started by placing twelve inches of sawdust or litter on the floor of the compost facility. Carcasses are then placed in a single layer on top of the sawdust and at least six inches away from the walls of the facility. The carcasses are covered with another twelve inches of sawdust and the pile is ready for the next layer. Each additional layer of carcasses is covered with another layer of sawdust. In order to add a large sow or boar to the pile, a trough can be dug into the existing layers to accommodate the carcass.
Water is added to each layer as needed to maintain the proper moisture level.
Once a compost site is fully operational, finished compost may be recycled back into the primary bins in equal proportion to new sawdust. This helps to conserve on raw materials, accelerates bacterial activity, and provides needed heat when new piles are started in the winter. Temperatures should be continuously monitored and the piles should be turned to add air when the temperatures start to drop below 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Each time the pile is turned, internal temperatures will rise and the composting process will accelerate. Speed of carcass decomposition depends on the size of carcasses and the ratios of nutrients in the compost pile.