Options for carcass disposal include incineration, burying, composting, and rendering (see Disposal of Carcasses and Disinfection of Premises). The method of disposal should complement the farm's biosecurity program and minimize the risk of pathogen introduction or circulation on the farm. Rendering usually requires that service vehicles access the farm to collect carcasses. Therefore, areas designated for carcass collection should be established on the periphery of the farm so that service vehicles can access the collection site without entering the farm. Composting can present a challenge to farm biosecurity when wild animals and scavenging birds invade compost piles and transport tissues around the farm.

Last full review/revision July 2011 by Darryl Ragland, DVM, PhD