By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Associate Editor INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Recognizing new technology in the disposal of dead animals, the Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH) passed a final rule that clarifies and updates an older rule.
With the rule - LSA document No. 10-561 – livestock producers can dispose of deceased livestock through biodigestion and chemical digestion, as well as feeding carcasses to exotic animals. Additionally, the rule clarifies requirements for composting animal carcasses, incineration and authorizes certain composting sites with a disposal plant license.
Choices for animal disposal now include: removal to a licensed disposal plant, burying the carcass to a depth of four feet or more with a covering of at least four feet of earth in addition to any other materials, thorough and complete incineration, thorough and complete composting, by sale to a plant producing pet food under permit by the state veterinarian, disposal by biodigestion such as anaerobic digestion, disposal by chemical digestion such as alkaline hydrolysis reduction, and disposal by feeding to exotic animals.
The new biodigestion and chemical digestion requirements indicate that the digestion process must be operated in a manner that meets all of the following conditions: “the carcass and waste must be thoroughly and completely digested, the end product must be disposed of in compliance with IC 13 (the state environmental laws), the process must not create a health hazard to humans or animals and expose the material being processed to conditions that are reasonably likely to kill pathogenic organisms.”
During the public hearing that proceeded the passage of the final rule, BOAH received several positive comments on the new animal disposal requirements, as well as a few recommendations.
“The members of Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. are pleased with the changes which have been proposed to the animal disposal rules,” said IFB attorney Justin Schneider in a written comment.
“Providing options such as biodigestion and chemical digestion provide flexibility that is needed to address mortalities, as is the allowance of new and efficient technologies such as in-vessel composting systems. Our members also suppose the more clear standards for composting, incineration and digestion, which are contained in the proposed rule.”
The Indiana Pork Advocacy Council (INPAC) supported the proposed changes, but contends the definition of “animal owner” is unclear. The rule indicates that animal owners transporting an animal carcass to a site for disposal in compliance with this rule are exempt from the rule.
“From the perspective of the pork producer, every site may not have its own disposal site,” said Josh Trenary, of INPAC. “As such, animal carcasses may be transported from a site with no mortality management area in place to another production site containing a proper disposal site. It would seem the intent of the language in 2(d)(5) is to include in the exemption livestock producers conducting this type of transportation. The exemption should include anyone who cares for the animals on behalf of the owner, either direct employees or agents of the actual animal owner, or in the case of a contract grower arrangement, the actual contract grower or an employee or agent of the contract grower.”
Animal activist Barbara Sha Cox added that “all compost piles should be secured from wild animals. This should include a four-sided structure or fence to prevent animal parts being found on roads and in neighbors’ yards. Compost piles should also have setbacks from highways, public places such as parks, churches, schools and homes of nearby residents.”
New race horse testing Also during BOAH’s quarterly meeting in April, the Board passed both the second reading of a permanent rule as well as an emergency rule (LSA Document No. 11) to require new testing for equine piroplasmosis (EP) at Hoosier horse racetracks.
The second reading clarified language to include testing only on horses at racetracks to avoid concern at barrel races and other events where equine gather. During the next quarterly meeting, BOAH will host a public hearing as well as make a decision on the final adoption of the proposed rule.
An emergency rule was passed at the most recent meeting to set the wheels in motion to temporarily require testing of American Quarter Horses and Thorough-bred horses for equine piroplasmosis (EP) prior to entering a premise, where a horse race is run. Since an emergency rule expires in 90-days – the process must also begin for a permanent rule, which requires a first reading, second reading an open hearing and final reading, said Marsh.
The blood-born parasitic disease known as equine piroplasmosis affects equine and symptoms may include fever, anemia, yellowing of the membranes in the eyes and mouth and sometimes death. Horses infected with EP are carriers of the parasites that cause the disease and may potentially infect other horses.
According to Tim Bartlett, district veterinarian for BOAH, an outbreak at King Ranch in Texas and a sub-outbreak in Mexican-based racehorses forced testing of 50 horses in Indiana “Ten (Indiana) horses were linked to King Ranch, three tested positive, two of which were euthanized and one still resides in quarantine,” said Bartlett. “If there was an outbreak in Indiana, it would have potential to shut the races down. This is the reason we wanted to look at this at the beginning of the racing season.”
The emergency rule will require any horses entering a track to present paperwork that proves a negative test for equine piroplasmosis. The rule states that blood sample testing must take place at least once in a 12-month period by a licensed and accredited veterinarian. Additionally, testing must be performed and the results reported by a laboratory certified and approved by the USDA.
Now that the rule has been officially approved by the Board, it will be reviewed by the attorney general, signed by the governor and then filed, according to Bartlett. For more information, visit BOAH online at www.in.gov/boah |
