Composting poultry offal january 2014

Small-scale composting of

poultry feathers and offal

Alex Berland

Passmore Poultry Pluckers

[email protected]

Acknowledgment

This presentation was funded in part by

the Investment Agriculture Foundation of

B.C. through programs it delivers on behalf

of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and

the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture.

Copyright Passmore Poultry Pluckers Inc. 2October 2013

Small-scale composting of

poultry feathers and offal

• Siting

• Critical elements

• Methods

– Bin design

• Trouble shooting

• References


http://compost.css.cornell.edu/naturalrenderingFS.pdf

Distances in feet

Siting of operation

4

Three critical elements

1. Carbon

2. Moisture

3. Air


Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio

• The C:N ratio should be between 20:1 to 35:1 Optimal C:N is 25: to 30:1.

• According to some, the best form of carbon is untreated sawdust.

• With straw, longer composting times and possible run off of liquids.

• We use wood chipper waste, can also use paper.

• Material that has completed the compost cycle can be partially substituted (will also ‘seed’ bacteria)


Attributes of common on-farm

composting materials

http://bqa.wsu.edu/documents/ON%20FARM%20COMPOSTING.pdf 7

Water is a critical component

• The pile should be 45-60% moisture.

• No need to add water to litter with normal

moisture levels.

• The mixture should hold its shape without

dripping if you squeeze some in your hand.


Checking moisture content in compost

• Squeeze a small handful of your raw material.

• It should feel like a wrung-out sponge.

• If the material does not feel moist and

crumbles, it is too dry.

• If you can squeeze water from the material by

hand, it is too wet.

• If it sticks together slightly and leaves a few

drops of water on your hand, it’s just right.


Air

• Turning is not recommended until you’re pretty certain the carcass material is gone.

– For poultry offal it likely will disappear in 2 weeks, but

initially wait at least a month.

• When building the pile, try to layer the offal and co-composting materials repeatedly on top of 60cm (2’) of a more absorbent & porous bed of feed-stocks.

– This will help speed the process versus having one big

mass of offal.


Best way to check C:N and

moisture is to record temperature• Highest rates of decomposition at 43 - 66°C.

• Goal: constant heat over 55°C for three days.

• Avoid temperature above 66°C as microbial activity declines rapidly.

• For optimal temperature use a layer cap of inactive sawdust or straw to act as insulation.

• This also ensures that the pile will remain aerobic (hot air rises out of the top and draws in cold air from the sides and bottom).


Three composting methods

1. Bin

2. Windrow

3. Aerated static pile• Active

• Passive

• Others not discussed here:

– In-vessel

– Turned windrow (automated)


Bin composting

• Natural aeration and frequent turning provide aerobic bacteria with oxygen to break down materials.

• High temperatures, from 32º to 60ºC (90º to 140ºF), are produced when piles are turned every 5-10 days.

• Materials should be stockpiled until enough accumulates to add approximately one cubic metre or yard to the bin.


Mixing offal waste in bins• Offal should be added in layers with co-composting

materials, rather than in small amounts over time.

• Bury the offal deeply in the pile, making sure you

have at least one foot of material on all sides of the

offal and a two foot porous, absorbent base.

• Wait 2-4 weeks until the carcass material is gone

before turning.

• Spread the meat waste out over a large area, rather

than plopping it all in one pile.

• Water thoroughly.


BC Ministry of Food Agriculture and FisheriesCopyright Passmore Poultry Pluckers Inc. 15October 2013

Joel Salatin operation

16

Tulaberry Farm, Slocan Valley

• Not shown – lattice layer of poles at base17


Plastic barrier base,

passive air supply


Photos credit: Andy Bary, Washington State U20

Compost bin manufactured by Sure Link Fencing Ltd. Slocan Park BC


http://www.mda.state.mn.u

s/en/Global/MDADocs/ani

mals/compostguide.aspx

Covered

bin

designs

22

Windrow

• National Standard

– The material shall attain a temperature of 55°C or

greater for at least 15 days during the composting

period.

– Also, during the high temperature period, the

windrow shall be turned at least five times.


http://compost.css.cornell.edu/naturalrenderingFS.pdf 24

BC Ministry of Food Agriculture and FisheriesCopyright Passmore Poultry Pluckers Inc. 25October 2013

Two windrows should be used

• When the first one is large enough, it should

be allowed to decompose undisturbed.

• Additional waste should then be added to the

second windrow.

• Covering the windrow with a layer of finished

compost will help prevent moisture loss and

reduce odour problems.

• Active period from six months to two years.


Building active aerated static piles

• Floors are first covered with a layer of bulking agent, such as wood chips or finished compost

• The material to be composted is then added, and a topping layer of finished compost or wood chips applied to provide insulation.

• Active period 21-40 days

• National standard : The material will be maintained at operating conditions of 55°C or greater for three days.


BC Ministry of Food Agriculture and Fisheries

Active aerated static piles


Puyallup System

Static piles with passive aeration

• 4-5 inch diameter black plastic drain pipe with

pre-drilled holes drilled 8 inches apart on 2

sides of the pipe.

• 2 composting bins

– 4 ft wide by 8 ft long by 5 ft high

– At each time of slaughter, offal was added to one

bin, and additions alternated between the bins.


Photos credit: Andy Bary, Washington State U30October 2013

Kitsap County 2009

Date

Sep Oct Nov

Tem

pera

ture

, F

ahre

nhe

it

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Pile

Air

Graph credit: Andy Bary, Washington State U

Puyallup SystemTarget temperature achieved

31

Larry Dees, Grand Forks BC


The final product

• The final composted material should have the

following physical and odour qualities:

– unrecognizable original materials

– dark brown to black colour

– foreign matter/materials less than 1%

– relatively porous structure, not compacted or hard

– no objectionable odours, but an 'earthy' smell.


Causes and fixes for

objectionable odours

1. Inadequate aeration, allowing anaerobic

digestion to take place.

• Solution: Aerate the composting materials

more frequently.

2. A low C:N ratio.

• Solution: Adjust the C:N ratio by adding more

carbonaceous materials.

3. Wet composting materials.

• Solution: Aerate moreCopyright Passmore Poultry Pluckers Inc. 34October 2013

Use of compost

• Compost nutrient estimates are 7kg N, 2.5kg

P2O5

and 4kg K2O per tonne of compost.

• Reuse finished compost as the base for the

next pile.

• Use on hay, corn, winter wheat, tree

plantations and forestlands.

• Applying to “table-top” crops directly

consumed by humans is not recommended.


Resources• BC Ministry of Agriculture Composting Factsheet

http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/publist/300Series/382500-5.pdf

(general; regulations)

• http://agsyst.wsu.edu/PoultryOffal.pdf (Puyallup system)

• http://www.eggfarmers.co.nz/uploads/8E738_Composting_Dead_Poultry.

pdf

• http://compost.css.cornell.edu/naturalrenderingFS.pdf (rendering of large

animals)

• http://bqa.wsu.edu/documents/ON%20FARM%20COMPOSTING.pdf

(rendering of large animals)

• http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/Global/MDADocs/animals/compostguide

.aspx (rendering of large animals)

• http://vermiculture.ca/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=87

(compost thermometer)


Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada, the BC Ministry of

Agriculture and the Investment Agriculture Foundation of

BC, are pleased to participate in the production of this

presentation.

We are committed to working with our partners to address

issues of importance to the agriculture and agri‐food

industry in British Columbia.

Opinions expressed in this presentation are those of

Passmore Poultry Pluckers Inc. and not necessarily those of

Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada, the BC Ministry of

Agriculture and the Investment Agriculture Foundation.


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Composting poultry offal january 2014

Self Improvement