University of Minnesota Research Examines Disease Risk Posed by Dead Animal Structures and Mitigation Strategies

Research conducted by the University of Minnesota has identified the disease risks posed by dead animal structures and strategies to address those risks. Research conducted by the University of Minnesota, with funding provided through the Swine Health Information Center's Wean to Harvest Biosecurity Research Program, in partnership with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and the Pork Checkoff, has examined the role of dead animal structures in the spread of four key pathogens including PRRS, PED, Porcine Delta Coronavirus and Transmissible gastroenteritis.

SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder says the objectives were to assess environmental contamination surrounding dead animal handling structures, determine pathogen spread using Glo Germ, assess the impacts of mitigation strategies such as the use of whitewash and determine farm practices that either increase or decrease environmental contamination, comparing rendering and composting.

Quote-Dr. Megan Niederwerder-Swine Health Information Center:

One of the key findings was that environmental contamination was more frequently detected in farms that use rendering compared to composting. Approximately 5.4 times more likely to detect pathogen contamination at sites that utilized rendering compared to composting.There was also some component of precipitation, so when was the last rainfall?

It was found that there was some association with enhanced contamination if it rained recently close to the site. There was also significance with regards to Glo Germ and understanding how a contamination proxy could be moved around when the contamination was close to the dead box or rendering pick-up site.
As we think about that, there can be inadvertent movement of pathogens due to vehicles or even personnel that may be encountering the dead animal handling structures and then going on and doing additional duties.There is significance there with regards to the risk and also comparing the rendering and composting environmental contamination rates.

The final report and full details of the work can be accessed at swinehealth.org.