When animals die on the farm
Seeking new solutions to an old problem
By Lilian Schaer for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation
Farmers never want to lose animals, but on-farm mortalities are an unfortunate reality of livestock farming. Also an unfortunate reality for farmers are the on-going challenges in accessing practical and viable solutions for handling and disposing of animals that die unexpectedly on the farm.
“Deadstock is more than just a farm issue – it affects veterinarians, transporters, processors, renderers, waste management companies, municipalities and regulatory agencies too,” says Mike McMorris, CEO of the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC). “And through One Health, the interconnectivity of animal, human and environmental health, it also has broader societal implications, so it’s a problem in need of solutions.”
According to McMorris, there has been little innovation in how deadstock is handled, with the industry still largely relying on rendering. This means on-farm pick up, which has become uneconomical across a huge geographic area of Ontario due to escalating costs for pick-up companies. This is not a new issue, as farmers have faced disruptions and service cuts for decades, but the time has come for a different approach, he says.
“It is time to take a fresh look at the issue, recognizing the new focus on One Health and investigating the topic from an international and innovation perspective,” he says, adding there is a clear desire by everyone involved for innovative solutions and opportunities.
LRIC has received funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to lead a project that will hopefully do just that.
A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis will examine current opportunities and barriers to those dealing with livestock mortalities in Ontario; expansion, growth and retention of businesses currently providing those services in the market, and factors that have contributed to companies and service providers leaving the industry.
The project will also take a view beyond Ontario’s borders to look at how other jurisdictions tackle the problem of on-farm livestock mortalities and what options and practices they use, or research they’ve conducted, that might be suitable for application in Ontario.
A traditional end-use for meat from animals who die on-farm has long been the pet food industry. And while this continues to be an option, the project will also include a market analysis for use and sale of other end products stemming from by-products of deadstock management systems.
Finally, the research team will explore the suitability and practicality of various options, including:
- Transfer stations. Could centrally located facilities serve as pick up/drop off points for renderers and farmers needing to access deadstock management services? As an interim solution, these could help to alleviate challenges posed by Ontario’s large geography and increasing transportation costs that make on-farm pick up unviable for many farmers and service providers.
- Waste management companies and municipalities. Do waste management companies and associations, municipalities and landfill sites have the capacity to accommodate possible deadstock pick up and disposal options at their facilities?
- New long-term options. How could solutions used in other jurisdictions or innovations identified as having potential for Ontario be adapted to serve the livestock industry in this province?
The project has come about due to a request by Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Veal Farmers of Ontario, Beef Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Sheep Farmers and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to OMAFRA for help in addressing the livestock mortality issue with both short-term relief for farmers and long-term options that will result in practical and sustainable solutions.
“Farmers work hard to ensure they keep their herds healthy, but unfortunately, deadstock is part of the reality of livestock farming and food production, so we must find solutions that will work for everyone involved,” notes McMorris. A final report is expected in 2023.
This article is provided by Livestock Research Innovation Corporation as part of LRIC’s ongoing efforts to report on research developments and outcomes, and issues affecting the Canadian livestock industry.
Article was first published in November 15, 2022 edition of Ontario Farmer.
