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Q: How long do I have to dispose of dead livestock?
A: The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship requires that you must dispose of all dead livestock within 24 hours of the death of the animal.
Q: Can I burn dead livestock?
A: You may incinerate dead livestock in an engineered incinerator. Homemade incinerators may not be used. Open burning is not permitted.
Q: Can I bury dead livestock?
A: Yes. Burial must be no greater than 6 feet deep with a minimum of 30 inches of soil cover. Burial must be in well drained soils and be at least 2 feet above the highest groundwater elevation. Burial must be at least 100 feet from a private well, 200 feet from a public well, 50 feet from an adjacent property line, 500 feet from a residence and more than 100 feet from a stream, lake or pond. Burial cannot be in a wetland, floodplain or shoreline area.
Q: How many animals can I bury?
A: You may bury up to 44 butcher or breeding hogs, 7 slaughter or feeding cattle, 73 sheep or lambs, 400 poultry carcasses on any given acre per year.
Q: What if my rendering service is late or cannot make it that day?
A: You are ultimately responsible for the proper disposal of your livestock. Consider an alternative such as burial or taking the animals to a landfill.
Q: I have several animals that die daily. Do I have to cover and dig a new hole every day?
A: No. You must cover all animals immediately with six inches of soil, but can cover with 30 inches of soil when the burial pit is at its maximum allowable capacity.
Q: If I cannot bury or render my dead livestock, what else can I do?
A: Contact you local sanitary landfill. Landfills will generally accept dead livestock.
Q: Can I bury dead livestock on my neighbor’s farm ground that I rent?
A: No. Dead livestock can only be buried on the premises where they originated.
Q: What happens if I have a disaster and a mass die-off.
A: Contact rendering service, landfill or the local DNR Environmental Protection Division office for further assistance.
Q: Can I compost dead livestock?
A: Yes. Contact the DNR or your local Iowa State University Extension office for information on proper livestock composting.
Q: Am I required to have a “dead box”?
A: No. A “dead box” or some similar container to store dead livestock will reduce the chances of disease transmission and improve the aesthetics of your operation. However, it is not a requirement.
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