Code of Maine Rules
01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
001 - MAINE MILK COMMISSION
Chapter 211 - RULES FOR THE DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL CARCASSES
Appendix 001-211-A
Catastrophic Carcass Disposal Plan Template
Farm Name ________________________________________
Primary Disposal Option _____________________________________(composting, burial ")
Secondary Disposal Option ___________________________________(composting, burial, landfill")
The site for our catastrophic carcass compost/burial site is in tract___, field_____, on land we own. The site was chosen with the guidance of _____________________ __________________(licensed soil scientist, NRCS field staff, SWCD technician.)(Include name and phone number of person providing technical assistance.)Here we have enough space to compost/bury up to _______ cows.
For equipment to do this we own or have access to the following:
___Bucket Loader(s)
___Compost Turner(s)
___3 foot temperature probe
___3 to 6 foot piece of sharpened rebar
___trucks with dump body
___excavators
___bulldozers
___backhoes
___skid steers
___pulp loaders
___feed mix wagons
___manure spreaders
___Plastic safety fencing to contain the area (___ft.) and fastened to the ground around the finished compost area to discourage predators.
Cover materials for the composting process will include mixes of the following materials:
chopped straw, ground corn stalks, silage, ground hay , wood shavings/sawdust, cow manure, calf and heifer bedding, horse bedding and poultry litter. (see BMP for best ratios)
If we need more than we have on hand, we will get __________________(horse bedding, sludge compost, other bulking materials) from __________________._____________________ (Include contact name and phone number for material.)
For Composting, we will need 6X + 6 cubic yards of cover material. (X = number of cows.) . In addition, we will need 1.75X + 1.75 cubic yards of material to build the base. In total, for a 10 cow windrow, we would need approximately 85 cubic yards of material. If our entire herd required composting, we would need ______________ cubic yards of compost material.
In order to create the bed, we would need to lay down an 18 inch deep bed of compost materials laid out in a windrow that is 10 feet wide and 44 feet long (4 x X +(4) for each layout of 10 animals. (X is the number of cows.) (see diagrams in BMP) A 2 feet space will be allowed between the end cows and the end of the windrow.
Windrows will be laid out in pairs, with a one foot gap between each pair. A gap of 10 feet will be allowed before the next pair of windrows. (see diagrams in BMP)
(Note: If burial is the primary option, then the description from the Department of Agriculture trench burial document should be used as guidance for this section.)
If a catastrophe occurred, __________________________________________(Name and phone number) would immediately call:
Local:_______________________________________________________(name and phone number)
State:_______________________________________________________ (name and phone number)
Federal authorities_____________________________________________ (name and phone number)
on implementing biosecurity recommendations. We would immediately minimize traffic on the farm and disinfect people and vehicles coming to the farm and leaving the farm. (How would this be done" Is disinfection equipment for vehicles available on the farm" If not, where will it be obtained")
________________________ would be in charge of overseeing the composting/burial on our farm. S/he will have received this training from _____________________________. For composting, s/he will oversee the bed building, the carcass layout, and the covering of the carcasses with at least 2 feet of material. (3 feet if it is winter) S/he will use a 3 foot probe to insure coverage is adequate. S/he will visually monitor the pile everyday for the first 7 days, and once a week thereafter. If cracks appear or any carcass part is visible, additional material will be added to cover immediately.
S/he will record Carcass Compost Temperatures 5 days per week, in at least five different places (flagged so that repeat measures are taken in the same spot) in each windrow until the time/temperature standard is met.(see attached) The temperatures will be recorded on a chart and that record will be kept in a safe place.
The pile will be left undisturbed for 10-12 weeks to as long as 6 months, based on levels of decomposition.
The windrow will be turned with a bucket loader, excavator, or compost turner about once a week thereafter for as long as the average pile temperature is above 110 degrees. In order for the compost to leave the farm, it must achieve a minimum of 131° F or 55° C for 3 days, or in the turned windrow phase, have achieved a minimum of 131° F or 55° C for a minimum of 15 days with a minimum of 5 turnings during that time. Otherwise it will be re-composted or spread on the owner's own fields.
There will be a record maintained of where each batch was spread, whether on own land or someone else's and it will be included in the Nutrient Management Plan of the landowner as well.
