May 15, 2020

US state creates pig disposal method

Pork industry officials in the US state of Minnesota are using a method formed during ASF preparedness training to substantially reduce pigs, reported Brownfield Ag News.

Minnesota Pork CEO David Preisler said the state had set up two centralised rendering plants to help producers dispose of euthanised hogs.

"It was actually used for some cleanup work after a hurricane, especially on the poultry side of things, and then adapted to use for pigs."

"And that product will be made into fertiliser, pet food, and those sorts of things, so it's truly recycled. The other thing we're looking at, especially up in Minnesota, is what's called 'grinding and composting."

Preisler says that involves taking the pig carcass and grinding it along with a carbon material like woodchips or cornstalks. The compost is then put into windrows that can be spread on farm fields this fall.