Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 209 - Arkansas Agriculture Department › Division 01 - Livestock And Poultry Commission › Rule 209.01.21-004 - Disposal of Large Animal and Poultry Carcasses

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
I.
Definitions.
As used in this
			 rule:
"State Animal Health Official" means the State Veterinarian or
				designee.
"Incineration" means the destruction of animal carcass soft
				tissue and most of the hard tissue by means of controlled combustion.
"Composting" means the natural biological degradation of plant
				and animal matter in a controlled, well aerated system. Composting for disposal
				should contain carcasses, a carbon source and moister in order to reach
				temperatures that will destroy pathogenic organisms.
"Rendering" means to process mortality by machinery, device or
				system designed and operated for the purpose of making an animal feed or feed
				supplement from animal carcasses or parts.
"Burial" means to dispose of mortality by covering carcasses
				with soil; either by placing carcasses in an excavated area or on the soil
				surface.
"On Farm freezing" means to dispose of poultry mortality by
				placing carcasses in a leak proof freezer unit capable of maintaining a
				subfreezing temperature for the duration of the flock or when the unit is
				full.
"Carbon Source" means a biodegradable material used to aid in
				the decomposition process of mortality which includes but not limited to wood
				shavings, sawdust, hay and rice hulls.
"Catastrophic mortality" means an event where a large number of
				animals die, other than from a reportable disease, and the normal method of
				disposal is inadequate.
"Large animal" means cattle, horses, domesticated swine, sheep,
				goats, cervidae, bison, llamas, alpacas, ostriches, emus, rheas, and other
				native or nonnative animals, excluding dogs, cats, and feral hogs.
"Poultry" means a class of domesticated fowl (birds) farmed for
				their meat or eggs which include but not limited chickens, turkeys and
				ducks.
II
DISPOSAL OF
			 LARGE ANIMAL CARCASSES
A. Large animal
			 carcasses must be disposed of in the following manner unless specified directly
			 by the State Animal Health Official.
1.
			 Rendering.
Large animal carcasses may be submitted to a rendering facility
				in a sealed vehicle that does not allow drainage while being moved.
2. Burial
Carcasses may be buried at a site at least 100 yards away from
				a well and in a place where a stream cannot be contaminated. Carcasses may be
				covered with lime, particularly when needed to control odors. All carcasses are
				to be covered with at least 2 feet of soil. Carcasses are not to be buried in a
				landfill, without prior approval of the State Animal Health Official or
				Director of the Livestock and Poultry Commission.
Anthrax carcasses should be sited as far as possible (at least
				100 yards) from a well or water source and disposed of by incineration. The
				burn site should be acidified and then buried under 2 feet of soil.
3. Composting
Carcasses or portions of carcasses may be composted in
				compliance with the following guidelines.
a. General Requirements
(1) The composting process must be managed at
			 all times to be practically odorless, prevent fly larvae development, prevent
			 animal depredation and stop leaching of waste material thereby becoming a
			 source of water/soil contamination.
(2) The carcass(es) must be reduced to
			 brittle/easily broken bone.
(3) A
			 minimal temperature of 130 F and a minimal 110 F maintenance temperature must
			 be achieved during the composting process to where the finished product is
			 pathogen free.
b.
			 Composting - Exposed to Weather
(1) Compost
			 material (carbon source such as sawdust, hay, etc.) may not contain manure if
			 exposed to rain or water.
(2) The
			 carcass(es) must be placed on at least a 24-inch-thick pad of compost material
			 that is large enough so that when the carcass(es) is placed there it will be at
			 least 24 inches from the carcass(es) to the edge of the pad.
(3) A layer of compost material that
			 completely covers the carcass(es) and is at least 24 inches thick must be
			 maintained throughout the composting process.
c. Composting - Protected from Weather
Compost material (carbon source such as saw dust, hay etc.) may
				contain manure.
d.
			 Composting must be done in a bin(s) that has a concrete floor to provide an
			 all-weather base, roof to exclude excess moisture and rot resistant bin
			 construction to support the compost material and withstand stresses applied by
			 tractor loader.
e. Carcass(es) must
			 be placed in the compost bin on at least a 12 inch thick base pad of compost
			 material and carcass(es) cannot be placed within 8 inches of the sides, front
			 or rear of the compost bin.
f. A
			 layer of compost material that completely covers the carcass(es) must be
			 maintained throughout the composting process.
4. Incineration (burning)
Incineration or open burning may be used as long as carcass is
				reduced to ash.