Approximately how many bird carcasses are routinely disposed of in the U.S. annually and how do health considerations influence disposal decisions?
Category: Poultry Industry Carcass Disposal Questions
Answer:
More than 40 million bird carcasses are disposed of annually by the broiler production portion of the poultry industry (of the nine billion birds that undergo Federal inspection each year) as a result of any sign of disease or mortality during production. The rendering process destroys all microbial pathogens in diseased poultry carcasses. These birds are rendered and used as a protein source in animal feeds. In response to the last foreign animal disease outbreak, Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) in 2004-2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversaw the disposal of millions of bird carcasses through environmentally safe disposal in landfills. The primary public and animal health consideration when disposing of flu-infected carcasses is safety of humans and animals. The number of people involved in the disposal should be minimized, as should the virus in the contaminated material and the risks associated with removing and transporting contaminated material.
All carcass disposal situations involve public health, animal health, and environmental considerations. The primary public and animal health consideration when disposing of flu-infected carcasses is rapid removal of the disease agent through carcass disposal. The goal is to stop exposure pathways by removing the source of the disease agent (i.e. the animals themselves). This is especially true for zoonotic disease agents such as avian influenza. Environmental considerations include distance to water bodies and wells, depth to the water table, soil type and depth, temperature, weather, and odor potential. Effective decision-making involves understanding these criteria and, when necessary, utilizing different types of disposal/treatment options to reduce health and environmental impacts, such as potential contamination of drinking water, soil, and other environmental media (soil, water, air).
Last Updated: 05/22/2007
