EVALUATION OF MORTALITY PROCESSING ALTERNATIVES

摘要

Current U.S. broiler production approaches eight billion birds annually and the industry suffers a death loss of an estimated 400 million birds/400,000 tons each year (based on an approximated 5% mortality rate and 2.0 1b. average carcass weight as used by Blake et al, 1990). These carcasses create disposal challenges in all production regions and can pose microbial risks to watersheds and contribute to air quality concerns. Commercial methods of mortality management can include burial, digestion, incineration, rendering, or composting. Use of these mortality management strategies varies by production region. Since all of these strategies can be problematic due either to cost, extensive carcass handling, labor and management requirements, microbial contamination risks to the watershed, or a combination of these factors, widespread research and development activities are continuing to identify new, more efficient and more economical mortality management alternatives. Newer technologies under investigation and development often support stabilization of carcasses destined for nutrient recovery (i.e. rendering) or other value-added uses. Several states now allow the use of mass burial procedures only for catastrophic loss events. Implementation of new, low management, environmentally friendly, on-farm management alternatives are needed to meet some of the challenges facing industry while protecting environmental quality.