Top: Poultry mortality composting during the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Photo ©2007 Gary Flory

Preparing a mix of amendments for seal carcass composting. Photo courtesy of Mark King

The International Symposium on Managing Animal Mortalities, June 27-30, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a triennial symposium focused on collaborating and sharing information to advance sustainable practices regarding animal mortalities. These conferences have had tremendous success dating back to their start in 2005 and have garnered support from around the world. “The symposium is a great opportunity for those in agriculture, academia, government and other areas that have a vested interest in managing animal mortalities,” note the organizers. “This is increasingly important during times when faced with natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and when faced with animal welfare issues including disease outbreaks. The purpose of the symposium has never been more evident since the outbreak of African Swine Fever and the impacts from Covid-19. Through the symposium, we work together on research, technology, and new discoveries, as well as networking with stakeholders in order to facilitate collaboration and provide solutions.”

Three tours are being held on June 27; options include a swine- or poultry-themed tour, or one that focuses on response to animal agriculture emergencies. Technical sessions on June 28-29 cover routine vs. catastrophic composting, emergency responses, e.g., to an avian flu outbreak, and biosecurity, along with many other topics related to animal mortality management. In the afternoon on June 29, participants will attend live demonstrations that include above ground burial, static pile and aerated static pile methods, compost windrow turning, and drone operations. The final day includes emergency response training and exercises.