42 It’s Farming. And It’s Better. Better Farming | February 2024 Livestock OPTIONS FOR DEADSTOCK MANAGEMENT ‘The biggest issue is not lack of choice.’ By Emily Croft The saying, “if you have livestock, you have deadstock,” is not uncommon to hear among livestock producers. While farmers try their hardest to avoid these losses, sometimes it is unavoidable. This leaves producers with the challenge of managing these losses. There are some key factors that play into decisions surrounding deadstock management. For losses from disease or infection, it is important to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other animals within the herd or to other neighbouring herds. Biosecurity considerations play a large role in deadstock management. Regulations are also in place with considerations for human and environmental health, pest and predator control and public perception. While these regulations are all necessary for the well-being of the public, environment and animals in proximity to livestock farms, the result is reduced feasibility for some available deadstock handling options. Cost is also a large factor in determining feasibility. Deadstock management is not a one-size-fits-all method for all livestock. What are the current options for deadstock management and what challenges are producers facing? Current options and challenges In Ontario, the options for deadstock management include composting, incineration, burial, disposal in approved landfills, or use of a disposal vessel. In other provinces, exposure may be an additional option. Despite all these options, it may be difficult for producers to find appropriate and cost-effective methods to manage deadstock on their farms. Jenn MacTavish recently led a study for the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) that investigated challenges and opportunities for deadstock management in Ontario. “The biggest issue is not lack of choice but that we have regulatory and financial contradictions that make it hard,” says MacTavish. The LRIC study included a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis in which approximately 70 organizations and individuals were consulted and an international scan was conducted with the goal of finding solutions to deadstock management challenges. The study found that while rendering was the preferred option, the increased costs have led to challenges with service area and producer uptake. Thomas Brandstetter, manager of policy and issues at Beef Farmers of Ontario, says that some government programs have been created to address this. “Rendering is the preferred solution, but sometimes, depending on where you are in the province, that might not be an option and there might not be service providers that can pick them up,” says Brandstetter. “The government has provided some initiatives over the past couple SRM regulations create challenges for deadstock management on cattle farms. ImagineGolf/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo
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