animal and poultry
waste management research:
a progress report

Swine Mortality Fermentation: Kinetics, Design and Demonstration

Funding: $102,000 (North Carolina Pork Council and the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service and College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University)

Status: This project, which began in January 1996, is scheduled to last three years.

Investigators: Dr. John J. Classen, assistant professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 515-6800, fax: (919) 515-7760, email: JOHN_CLASSEN@NCSU.EDU; Dr. Larry F. Stikeleather, professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 515-6754, fax: (919) 515-7760, email: STIKELEA@EOS.NCSU.EDU; Dr. Peter R. Ferket, associate professor, Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 515-5409, fax: (919) 515-7070, email: PFERKET@WOLF.CES.NCSU.EDU; Dr. W. E. Morgan Morrow, associate professor, Animal Science, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 515-4001, fax: (919) 515-6316, email: MORGAN_MORROW@NCSU.EDU; Dr. Dwain H. Pilkington, professor, Food Science, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 515-2956, fax: (919) 515-7124, email: DPILKING@WOLF.CES.NCSU.EDU; Dr. John Deen, assistant professor, Food Animal and Equine Medicine, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 829-4248, fax: (919) 829-4464, email: JOHN_DEEN@NCSU.EDU

Scientists are experimenting with fermentation as a method of disposing of swine carcasses. They have shown that it is possible to use fermentation to produce from swine carcasses a material that is a good protein source. Carcasses are first ground into small pieces, and the resulting material is pasteurized. Sugar and a starter culture of bacteria are then mixed with the carcass material. The mixture is sealed, and fermentation begins. Within 24 hours the pH drops, which kills any pathogens in the mixture. The material has no odor and does not attract flies. The material is also a good source of nitrogen, and researchers hope to use the material as a source of crude protein in swine feed. Researchers are now designing a grinder and reactor for use in an on-farm test.