Composting carcasses of dead animals eliminates pathogenic microorganisms

Abstract

The disposal of cattle carcasses is a potential economic and environmental liability. The destination of cattle carcasses is a critical point in rural properties, where animal mortality is a reality, added to the difficulties for its proper disposal. Inappropriate disposal of carcasses brings environmental contamination by pathogenic microorganisms, endangering human and animal health and the environment. Composting is a biological decomposition process of organic matter and a practical and simple alternative for carcass disposal. Was evaluated the effect of composting on the viability of indicator microorganisms relevant to cattle breeding. Plastic spheres containing lyophilized pathogenic microorganisms Echerichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus uberis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella Typhimurium, were placed at strategic points inside the carcass and in the compost piles, to monitor the presence of these microorganisms during the process. Plastic balls were removed from composting piles 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days for microbiological analysis. The results showed that composting reduces and / or eliminates pathogenic microorganisms. Composting provides microbiological safety for the use of the bio-compost generated as fertilizer.