Staging of swine carcasses to mitigate leachate contamination of the environment

Authors: MURPHY, PATRICK - Digital Agronomy, Llc; RAMERIZ, BRETT - Iowa State University; Scoggin, Kenwood; ANDERSEN, DANIEL - Iowa State University; Pearce, Sarah; Trabue, Steven

Submitted to: Science of the Total Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2025
Publication Date: 1/17/2025
Citation: Murphy, P.T., Rameriz, B.C., Scoggin, K.D., Andersen, D.S., Pearce, S.C., Trabue, S.L. 2025. Staging of swine carcasses to mitigate leachate contamination of the environment. Science of the Total Environment. 963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178483.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178483

Interpretive Summary: Outbreaks of infectious animal diseases pose a severe threat to the swine industry, as animal carcasses must be disposed of safely. However, disposal methods for carcasses are not always available for days and weeks after an outbreak. A study was conducted to evaluate materials and ways to store carcasses to minimize liquid contamination from decomposing swine carcasses. Materials used to store the carcasses included tarps, soil, corn stover (CS), and lime. Liquid contents from stored carcasses were higher in the control and tarp-covered carcasses than carcasses stored on CS or wrapped in a tarp. Soil covered carcasses reduced loading of material in the decay liquid, but CS material was able to reduce both the volume of liquid and material in the liquid. However, storing of carcasses in sealed containers was the most effective technique to reduce decomposition liquid leakage. This research is important to growers, scientists, engineers, and veterinarian health workers working in mortality management who are interested in reducing liquid contamination of decomposing carcasses.

Technical Abstract: Outbreaks of infectious animal diseases pose a severe threat to the swine industry, as animal carcasses must be disposed of safely. Disposal methods for carcasses are not always available for days and weeks after an outbreak. A study evaluated ways to stage carcasses to minimize leachate volume and biological substances in the leachate. Materials tested included tarps, soil, corn stover (CS), and lime. Sixty-three porcine carcasses were added to 21 test vessels and were incubated for 91 days. There were seven treatments, with three replicates per treatment and three carcasses per treatment vessel. Treatments included the following: 1) control carcasses in a pile; 2) carcasses wrapped in tarp material; 3) carcasses covered with tarp material; 4) carcasses covered by soil; 5) carcasses placed on CS bedding with tarp cover; 6) carcasses on CS bedding with CS covering; and 7) carcasses on CS bedding with a lime covering. Air and leachate samples were collected at predetermined time intervals during the study. Leachate volume was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for control, tarp-covered, and soil-covered carcasses than carcasses stored on CS bedding and wrapped carcasses. Soil-covered and CS bedding treatments insulated carcasses, promoting degrader activity and significantly (p < 0.05) reducing leachate material concentrations through filtration. CS bedding significantly reduced leachate material by 95% through sorption and filtration. However, storing carcasses in sealed containers was the most effective technique to reduce leachate loss to the environment.