N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
N.C. Agricultural Research Service
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Mortality Utilization

Prepared by: Thomas A. Carter

Published by: North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

Publication Number:

Last Electronic Revision: JULY 1996 (MSD)

Long Term Objective:

(1) Poultry producers will adopt new mortality disposal and utilization technology that does not impact water quality.

Short Term Objectives:

(1) Conduct field trial, demonstrations and develop educational programs to encourage the adoption of composting of poultry mortality.

(2) Develop and provide information to the poultry industry on the specifications, methodologies and feasibility of developing farm pick up of mortality for transportation to rendering plants.

(3) Provide information on other new mortality handling systems that would eliminate the potential water quality problems thought to be possible with dead pits and burial of poultry mortality.

Accomplishments:

During the years 1992-95, 1,152 poultry growera have adopted mortality disposal methods that recycle mortality by using mortality compost as plant fertilizer or farm pickup and rendering. With an average of 16,088 annual pounds of mortality per house, 26,167 tons of mortality are now being recycled each year that were buried or placed in underground pits in the past. This accomplishment has been a collaborative effort not only on the NCSU campus but also with NCDA (regulatory), SCS (cost share), NC Cooperative Extension Service (basic design criteria, field demonstrations and other educational programs), and the poultry industry.

Future Plans:

Currently working with new incinerator and digester designs.

Utilizing Poultry Manure as a Add on Value Product.

Long Range Objective:

Develop and provide information on add on value manure products to encourage movement of poultry manure and litter products out of the highly concentrated poultry areas.

Short Range Objective:

Develop and provide poultry industry and end users information on the feasibility of utilizing poultry litter as a nitrogen source when composting leaf trash and other organics.

Accomplishments:

Several field trials and demonstrations have been established and several others are in the planning stage. Reaction from the industry and end user has been positive at this point, but there is little documentation of adoption to date. Moving the manure product out of the concentrated poultry areas would allow more environmentally sound land application of poultry manures in those geographic areas.