A32-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 15, 2003 Seminar Discusses Poultry Composting To Control Catastrophic Disease CHARLENE M. SHUPP ESPENSHADE Lancaster Farming Staff MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.) Poultry industry representatives Dairymen’s Club Celebrates 25 Years; Honors Crothers With Service Award From left, The Penn State Dairymen’s Club elected new board members and officers at the Annual Meeting. Front row, Nicole Over, Secretary/Treasurer; Jean Kummer, President; Carrie Bom gardner, 2003 Vice President; Daphne Doll. Back row, David Lentz; Owen Bew iey, Milk Bottle Chair; Logan Bower; Suzy Demeester, 2004 Vice President. Missing from photo: Vickie Ansell. given to freshmen students who excel in dairy cattle judging. This year’s win ners, Raechel Kilgore and Emily Yeiser were recognized, along with past win ners. Front row: Josh Hushon, Raechel Kilgore, Emily Yeiser, David Lentz. Back row: Andrew Reed, Jacob Hushon, Chris Connelly. STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.)' — During the An nual Meeting, attendees heard an update on the Penn State Dairy Science Club from President Kim Mat son, recognized the 2003 Penn State Dairy Cattle Judging Teams accomplishments and congratulated this years Poage Grant-in-Aid recipients, Raechel Kil gore and Emily Yeiser. The annual Distinguished Service Award winner was Joy Crothers. She, and her husband Tom, own and operate the Brown Switch Brown Swiss and White Switch Holstein farm in Chester County. While at Penn State, Joy served as Dairy Science Club secretary, the Penn State Dairy Princess and co editor of the Dairyman yearbook before graduating with a degree in home economics. Joy is currently serving as president of the Pennsylvania Dairymens Club. Beth Raney, Centre County, was recognized for serving several years as Secrelary/Treasurer of the Penn State Dairymens Club. Membership elected Logan Bower, Perry County; Vickie Ansell, Fayette County; and Daphne Doll, York County to three-year Board of Director terms. HAY. STRAW & GRAIN SALE Every Thursday at 12 NOON Vintage Sales Stables, Inc. (Rt. 30, Paradise, PA) For more information 717/442-4181 717/768-8204 Generator Systems Diesel or Propane, 10-500 KW, Agricultural and Industrial. New, Used or Reconditioned Martin Diesel Services Shop (570) 658-5303 Office (570) 922-4494 gathered at Kreider’s Restaurant in Manheim Monday to hear Dr. Lewis Carr, University of Mary land. discuss a composting trial to prepare the Dehnarva region for disease out breaks. Avian Influenza (A. 1.) and other diseases were the driving force be hind organizing the demonstration to find an econom ically efficient way to handle the birds in a bio-secure manner. The solution Dr. Carr demon strated for the Maryland poultry industry was com posing the birds in the poultry house instead of inciner ation or burial. As stated in his paper on “Guide lines for In-House Composting of Catastrophic Poultry Mortali ty,” Carr writes, - Ceiling systems designed for your dairy, swine, and poultry facilities, as well - as shops, warehouses, garages, arenas, and more. Tired of working in a cold, noisy shop? These ceiling systems are designed to hold any amount of insula tion, and with insulation above, produce sound reduction qualities much greater than steel. Is the banding in your hog or poultry barn deteriorating? Let us replace them with our heavier poly ester bands which do not stretch or become brittle over time. “Composting of mortalities on the farm appears to be the most acceptable because it averts po tential groundwater pollution from burial, avoids high fuel cost and potential air pollution with incineration, and prevents the potential disease spread associat ed with transportation to landfills and the associated transport costs and tipping fees. Properly done, in-house composting of poultry carcasses is a cost-effective and biosecure means of inactivating pathogenic organisms in both the carcass and litter.” During his talk, Carr said an other benefit to-composting was that “we are treating the litter and the house at the same time we are composting the birds. As far as we are concerned, we are doing two things at one shot,” in stead of treating the litter and birds separately as would be the case in alternative methods. Carr also said, “Composting of the contaminated litter and car casses destroys pathogens in poultry houses, thus reducing the potential for disease spread.” The composting process as Carr stressed is a “cooking pro Providing the Ag industry with a very durable, attractive, waterproof, noncorrosive, alternative to conventional ceilings at a fraction of the cost. From 204/Sq. Ft. Installed a service formerly provided by MAJJJ TRIPLY CEILINGS Weaver Insu,ators MYERSTOWN, PA - (888) 238-9954 FAX (717) 866-0087 “Your source for quality, durable, & economical ceiling systems" cess” and when the proper “envi ronment is provided, “the organ isms will have a banquet.” In regards to A. 1., research shows that the virus can be inac tivated at 140 degrees in 10 min utes or 133 degrees in 15-20 min utes. Composting will achieve these temperatures, with an aver age compost temperature be tween 135-145 degrees. Carr also said, “Another rea son to compost We know what these birds do when we compost. Under the ground, we do not.” In the composting demonstra tion, Carr’s team organized three different ways to compost the birds, layering the birds and the litter, shredding the birds and pil ing the birds and litter, and mix ing and piling the birds. The resulting personnel and time needed to set up the entire compost windrow ranged be tween 2-4 people and between 4-7 hours, dependent on the method chosen. Dr. Carr said this proved that this option was not as labor intensive as believed. After the composting process is completed, Carr said the demon stration compost was land ap- plied and incorporated. The time used to compost this pile was about three months. If the com post pile is moved out of the house when it is ready to be turned for the first time, the amount of time a house is tied up is about three weeks. At the conclusion of his speech, Carr encouraged the au dience that the results he gave were accurate for the Delmarva area and should consider organ izing a demonstration in a non emergency situation to see how it works under Pennsylvania condi- tions. Carr also ‘'stressed that the demonstration has helped Mary land because they have knowl edge of how this process works in their state and demonstrated its worth as a viable option to their veterinarians. “We have firsthand knowledge now on what had to be done. That was the reason for the dem onstration. The issue that we had to demonstrate to our industry is that this was viable, economical, and I think we have most all the company vets on our side now. It used to not be that way.” Are you frustrated with the birds in your imple ment shed? Get the problem under con trol with a triply ceiling, as well as greatly improving the lighting. Contemplating a drop ceiling? Demand a triply ceil ing above your drop ceil ing if there is insulation being installed. This will serve as a vapor barrier along with permanently preventing falling insula tion.
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