Pig carcass composting using a forced aeration system during different seasons: a field study

Composting has been recognized as an environmentally acceptable method for treating animal carcasses. This field-scale study was designed to investigate the feasibility of dead pigs in a forced aeration composting system with dimension of 3.92 m length × 5.0 m width. Pig carcass composting was conducted during different seasons to determine the effect of different ambient temperatures on pig carcass degradation. Results showed that the forced aeration composting system was effective in disposal of dead pigs. High degradation of mortalities (> 91.4%) occurred in all treatment after 49 d composting periods. All flesh was completely degraded and only fragments of bones can be found. The days when compost pile temperature of trials in autumn, summer, next autumn and winter was above 50 °C were 32, 47, 34 and 31 days, respectively. In our study, cold season had no significant influence on the carcass decomposition rate, and ambient temperature of < 0 °C did not hinder the use of forced aeration system for the disposal of dead pigs. Turning during composting can promote the complete degradation of pig carcasses.