Pullet and Hen Depop and Disposal:
Pennsylvania Options for Catastrophic
Events
Paul Patterson, Penn State
Department of Animal Science
Introduction
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HPAI overview
Overwhelming situation
Pullets and Layers unique
Preparedness challenge//Resources available
Suspected Routes of Spread/Mixing of Current H5 AI
Viruses
HPAI cases seen
in all flyways
except Atlantic
flyway
Mississippi flyway
hardest hit
Findings as of July 15 2015
Commercial Poultry
Pullet and Layer Mngt. Unique
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High-Rise
Stack Cages
Aviaries
Slats
Slats & Litter
Litter (one, two story)
Outdoor Access
Range
• pics
Outline
• If highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on
your farm?
• HPAI Flock Plan
• Depopulation options
• Disposal options
If HPAI,…… What Do You Do?
• You have high mortality/symptoms, or quarantine
zone and surveillance testing
• Once a flock tests positive for AI:
– USDA/State: flk *inventory* for appraisal & indemnity
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_manag
ement/downloads/hpai/indemnity_procedures.pdf
– APHIS writes the Appraisal Document, producer must
sign before indemnity payment can be processed and
before depopulation
– Producer must develop a Flock Plan & signed by
owner, state and APHIS
HPAI Flock Plan
• A plan for all premises with H5/H7 infection or
exposure. Lays out the steps to eradicate the virus,
prevent the spread, procedures for quarantine release
and back to business (Vet Services Case Mngr).
• Enhanced Biosecurity:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/animal_
diseases/ai/HPAIchecklist.pdf
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Depopulation
Disposal
Clean and Disinfect
http://extension.psu.edu/animals/poultry
Depopulation Options
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Foam
Carbon Dioxide Gas
Captive Bolt
Cervical Dislocation
• HPAI Task Force
Committee Members:
Gregory Martin, PSU (Chair)
Mike Hulet, PSU
Jason Martin, Heritage PMS
Byron Shaffer, Kreider Farms
Les Fisher, Bell & Evans
Chryslin Wood, USDA-APHIS
David Griswold, PDA
Gene Carlson, SCTF
HPAI Euthanasia/Depop Flowchart
HPAI Diagnosis
Mak Carts or Buggy / Gas
Chamber
High #’s
Whole House Euthanasia
/ Gas Assisted
Cage Housing
Low #’s (2k)
Pull Dead when safe
Cervical Dislocation,
TED Gun or CO2
Tubs, including MAK
USDA Count /
Indemnification count; PPE
& Biosecurity Check
Foam Euthanasia
High #’s
Disposal
Partial House Gas
Assisted CO2
Pull Dead when safe
Floor Housing
Low #’s (2K)
Cervical Dislocation,
TED Gun or CO2
Tubs, including MAK
AI Virus Survival Time
Source
Liquid Manure
Feces, 40 F
Feces, 70 F
Feces, 90 F
Water, 66 F
Water, 88 F
Surface Material
Compost
Carcasses
Survival (Days)
105
30-35
7
4
94-160
26-30
2
30 min at 140 F
1600
1400
B 1200
o
d 1000
y
800
W
t
600
g
400
200
0
1
2
5
8
10
12
15
17
19
Management Strategies for Dust &Feathers
Foam
• Equipment: local fire dept
• Personnel
• Supplies: water, foam
concentrate
• Whole house
• Many batch options
Carbon Dioxide Gas
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Whole House Gas
Partial House Gas
Batch Gas
Modified Atmosphere
Killing Cart (MAK)
Temp. Assisted Vent. Shutdown: VSD
• Dr. Gail Golab, PhD, DVM, Chief Advocacy & Public
Policy Officer, AVMA
• “…the current U.S. HPAI outbreak is expanding
faster than it can be controlled using conventional
approaches….. the capacity of state and federal
agencies has been exceeded. Accordingly, the use
of less ideal methods that result in a quick death
for birds and support disease containment may
become necessary…..as an absolute last resort”
• 3 Research Teams: ISU, NCSU, PSU
Other Euthanasia Methods
• Captive Bolt (TED or Zepher)
• Cervical Dislocation
• For small flock or clean up after
other euthanasia methods
Disposal Options
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Compost
Render
Landfill
Incinerate
Burial
Ensile*
• HPAI Task Force
Committee Members:
Paul Patterson, PSU, Chair
Patty Dunn, PSU
Craig Williams, PSU
Jeff Risser, Rissers Poultry
Michael Melhorn, Mainjoy
Nan Hanshaw, PDA
Erin Bubb, PDA
Kerry Leib, DEP
David Blahna, USDA/APHIS
Disposal Decision Tree
Can birds be
used?
If yes, ship
If no, is on-site
composting?
If yes,
compost
If no, is
rendering?
If yes, render
If no, is landfill
or fixed
incineration?
If yes, landfill,
incinerate
If no, is burial?
If yes, bury
If no, is pyre?
Composting
• Controlled process uses good bacteria/fungi
• Birds decompose in 2 bin/2 stage process
* Stage 1: heats to 130-150 F in 5-10 days
* Heat kills pathogens, weed seeds, larvae
- Bronchitis, NC and Mg (Dobbins, 1988)
- IBD and NC (Murphy et al., 1990)
- HPAI & Adenovirus (Senne et al., 1994)
* Day 14-21 temperature drops (transfer)
* Stage 2: aeration allows second heat cycle
Composting Recipe
• Mortalities:Used litter:Straw:Water
1.0 : 2.0 : 0.1 : 0.25
• Carbon nitrogen ratio 23:1 (15:1–35:1)
• Moisture 55% (40-60%)
Compost
• Advantages: reasonable
cost, biosecure, relatively
simple, environ sound
• Disadvantages: some cost,
time commitment, requires
some equipment/labor, not
biosecure if not done right
• Carbon Source: mulch,
sawdust, straw etc.
• Recipe: MSU Tool
• Equipment
• Personnel
• Supplies
Mini Composter
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Simple, low cost, good for small flocks
Materials: (5) 3x3 pallets
Base of straw/litter, pallets allow aeration
Keep dead away from edge and covered
Loading: 1000lbs
fresh carcasses
• No mech. Equip
• Modular 2x, 3x
• Requires more water
Catastrophic Event Composting
~build a windrow~
• Select a well drained site /w same burial criteria
• Determine your compost recipe: MSU “Spartan
Compost Optimizer”, assemble your materials
• Make a bed layer 12in x 12ft carbon/litter
• Deposit single layer of carcasses
• Deposit 6in layer of litter/manure/carbon
• Repeat 2 more layers of birds
• Cover pile with 12in sawdust or other carbon
Catastrophic Event Composting
~maintain the windrow~
• Monitor composting temp 135-145F
• As temp declines 115-125F turn windrow
lift & drop litter for aeration don’t push
• Adjust moisture if wet or dry
• Cover any exposed carcass tissue
• After additional 3-4 wk compost complete
Render
• Keystone,
Fredericksburg
• Valley Protein,
Terre Hill
• JBS Mopac,
Souderton
• Cargill Regional Beef,
Wyalusing
• Personnel
• Equipment
• Supplies
Landfill
• Personnel
• Equipment
• Supplies
• Dumpster Roll-Offs:
– 20 yd 3.5 x 8 x 22 ft
– 30 yd 5.5 x 8 x 22 ft
– 40 yd 8 x 8 x 22 ft
Incinerate
• Fixed Incineration
– 1200 ton/d, 35.7 MW
• USDA - Mobile Units
– 6600 lbs/hr, 48k hens/d
• Pyre (open burning)
• Covanta Incinerator
1911 River Rd.
Bainbridge, PA 17502
(717) 426-4938
• Small batch crematories
Burial
• NPDS Permit & E&S Plan • DEP Reg. Title 25 243.11
• Carcasses shall be disposed of
• Conservation District/
NRCS Office: soils, topo & by burial, incineration or other
sanitary method within 24 hr
satellite maps
• All parts shall be covered by 2 ft
of earth at a location not less
than 100 ft from waters of the
Commonwealth, and not subject
to overflow
• Death from communicable
disease requires carcasses are
thoroughly enveloped in lime
Burial Area Suitability
• Unsuitable when the slope is greater than 25%
• When Federal Insurance maps indicate a
floodway, or 50 ft from the top of the stream
• One or more rock outcrops exist in the area
• Underlain by limestone, depressions, sinkholes
• Fill site less than 4 yrs, or with large rocks,
bricks or cement blocks
• Minimum Horizontal Isolation Distances
Burial
• Pullets: 31.8 lbs/ft3
• Layers 33.5 lbs/ft
• Example: 100,000 hens
@3.25lb = 6 x 4 x 404 ft pit
• Equipment
• Personnel
• Supplies
PA HPAI Task Force
Disposal Sub Committee
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Ensile*
Compost
Render
Incinerate
Landfill
Burial
• USDA “storage necessary” when
euthanasia (24hr) exceeds disposal
• Storage:
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Adequate stabilization, preservation
Not a fire, health or safety issue
No spillage, in closed leak proof containers
Adequate unit size, numbers & maintain
clean conditions
– Safeguards to protect water, soil & air from
leachate, pathogens and gases
(FAD PReP-USDA SOP’s: 14. Disposal, 2014)
Summary
• Rapid and sustained drop in pH
• Bacteria:
– Coliforms: eliminated by day 7 & 14
– Lactic acid bacteria: maintained 1.0E8-4
• Virus Isolation: No positive samples
All trachea & cloaca pools and individual
tubes virus negative!
Summary
• Carcass maceration will not
require silage inoculant
• Meets the FAD-USDA
guidelines for “storage”
• Mechanics & logistics of
carcass handling +++
• Gas generation will require
one-way valves
Summary
• Ensiling can scale-up for
commercial application & take
feed and eggs
• 100,000 hens, 10ft bag: 809
bds & 2630 lb/ft & 124 ft bag
• 1 mill hens, 14ft bag: 1588 bds
& 5160 lb/ft & 630 ft bag
• http://extension.psu.edu/animals/poultry
Avian Influenza Resources
• Secure Egg Supply:
http://secureeggsupply.com/