avian bird flu response in bc - composting birds and manure flu... · 2016-02-19 · avian bird flu...

Avian Bird Flu Response in BC -

Composting Birds and Manure

John Paul, Ph.D. Transform Compost Systems Ltd.

Abbotsford, BC Canada

Introduction

• The Avian Flu in British Columbia required depopulation of 19

million birds.

• Approximately 2 million were in flocks that tested positive for the

Avian Flu – these were incinerated, landfilled, or composted on

farm by the CFIA

The CFIA used a passively aerated composting method to

biologically heat treat the birds and litter. Perforated plastic pipe was

placed perpendicular to the windrows. The windrows were covered

with sawdust and plastic and contained vents for air exhaust.

Photo courtesy of BC Ministry of

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Manure from farms that tested positive was treated on farm by Transform

Compost Systems and the Sustainable Poultry Farming Group

Photo courtesy of BC Ministry of

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Introduction

Of the remainder of the 19 million birds that tested negative for

Avian Flu:

• Many of the broiler chickens went to market

• Some of the birds went to West Coast Reduction for rendering

• Approximately 1.3 million negative birds needed a home –

hence the initiation of the Vyefield Compost Site.

Avian Bird Flu Response in BC - Composting Birds and Manure

The following persons represent the team involved with composting 1.3 million birds that tested negative for Avian Flu.

• Orlando Schmidt – BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

• Geoff Hughes Games – BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

• Mike Younie – BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

• Ed Kielstra – Vyefield Farms Ltd.

• Bryan and Alexis Arthur – Pacific Forage Bag Supply Ltd.

• Dave Robertson – Robertson Farms

• Harvey Funk – Compost Technologies Inc.

• John Paul – Transform Compost Systems Ltd.

Introduction

• The composting technology was selected by the BC Ministry of Agriculture.

• The finances for this project were provided by the BC Government Provincial Emergency Program.

• The BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection assisted with the environmental considerations and the amendment to the Fraser Valley Regional District Solid Waste Management Plan.

• Pacific Forage Bag Supply Ltd partnered with Vyefield Farms to provide the equipment and services with the Ag Bag composting technology.

• Vyefield Farms donated their land, had their own Versa bagging equipment, and retained ownership of the compost.

• Harvey Funk of Compost Technologies Inc. Omaha, Nebraska (CTI) was hired by Vyefield Farms provide technical services and equipment for the CTI System composting technology, including the Versa Bagger.

• Dr. John Paul of Transform Compost Systems was hired by the provincial government to be the qualified professional on the project.

The Process – Feedstock

Delivery

• The birds were gassed

with CO2 on farm and the

carcasses delivered to the

bunker in enclosed trucks.

The Composting Process – Feedstock Blending

• The birds were blended with ground woodwaste and poultry

litter in the following ratio:

– One bucket of birds

– One bucket of manure

– Three buckets of woodwaste

The Composting Process – Grinding the Blend

• The bird / manure / woodwaste blend was ground using a

horizontal “Beast” grinder

• Separated dairy manure liquids were added during the grinding

process to provide approximately 55% moisture by weight

The Composting Process – Filling the Bags

• 30 Ag Bags (green bags) were filled with 550 cubic yards of material in

each 10 ft diameter by 200 ft long bag.

• Two lengths of 4” perforated flexible corrugated tubing was inserted

into each bag

The Composting Process – Filling the Bags

• 16 CTI System bags (white bags) were filled with 1400 cubic yards of

material in each 12 ft diameter by 350 ft long bag.

• Two 5” rigid perforated smooth wall reusable pipes were inserted into

the bag during loading

The Result – 39,000 Cubic Yards of Composting Material

Aerating the Composting Material in the Bags

• Each of the green bags was aerated using a Dayton Model 2C820

blowers – 1/3 hp 270 CFM @ 4” W.C static pressure

• Each of the white bags was aerated using two Dayton Model 4C108

blowers – 1 hp 559 CFM@ 4” W.C. static pressure

• CTI System bags (white) aerated 50% of the time – 4 min on, 4 min off

• AgBag bags (green) aerated 33% of the time - 4 min on, 8 min off

Monitoring Odor

• Odor was monitored twice daily – 8:00 AM, 8:00 PM at 7 different

locations on roads around the composting site.

• Odor was distinct at times, but only directly downwind of the

composting site.

• There were no odor complaints received by any agency

5

2

1

3

4

6

7

X Composting

Site

Monitoring Temperature

• Temperatures in each of the bags were recorded twice during the first

week, and then weekly for a period of six weeks.

• Thirty data points were measured on each bag at each sampling time,

at depths of 6”, 3’ and 6’ into the bag using 6’ probes.

• Surface temperature measurements were compared between green

and white bags


Average CTI System (White Bag) Temperatures

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Time (Weeks)

Tem

pera

ture

( oC

)

6” depth

3’ depth

6’ depth


Average Ag Bag (Green Bag) Temperatures

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Time (Weeks)

Tem

pera

ture

( o

C)

6” depth

3’ depth

6’ depth

Monitoring Coliforms

• Total and fecal coliforms were measured in select bags after one

week, two weeks and six weeks.

• 75 % of bags had less than 1000 MPN after one week

• 95 % of bags had less than 1000 MPN after two weeks

• 40 % of bags had less than 1000 MPN after six weeks

Moisture Separation Requires Removal From Bags

> 70% moisture

< 10% moisture < 10% moisture

Bag Contents are Removed and Windrowed

• Bags were opened after approximately 8-12 weeks

• Only a few small bones and some feathers remain of the chicken

• Bag contents are piled for further windrow composting

Windrows Are Turned Several Times During a 6 Week Process

• Coliform counts reduced after 2 to 3 turns

• Turning results in consistent moisture content – further drying

• Compost maturity index (Solvita) increases from 4 to 6 (for CO2) during windrow composting process

• White bag contents drier and less ammonia than green bags due to greater aeration rates

Temperatures Remain High During Windrow Composting

Temperatures in Windrows

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0 7 14 21 28 35 42

Time in windrow (days)

Tem

pera

ture

(

oC

)

Ag Bag (Green Bags)

CTI System (White Bags)

View of Site on August 14, 2004

View of Site on September 7, 2004

N – P – K 1 – 2 - 1

pH 7.8

C:N Ratio 18.6

EC 3.7 dS/m

Meets all requirement for Class A compost as defined by the

BC Organic Matter Recycling Regulations (later windrows

were affected by precipitation that started mid-September –

much of this compost did not meet Class A compost

requirements for coliform.

Total and Fecal coliforms are < 3 MPN

Analysis of Compost (from first 2 windrows)

Summary

• Composting in the bags resulted in a well contained process with

little odor concern and no odor complaints.

• Temperatures were maintained well above temperatures required for

pathogen kill.

• The carcasses were fully decomposed in the bags.

• Coliforms were killed initially, but some regrowth occurred on the

outside of the bag, requiring further windrowing and turning.

• Increased aeration in the CTI System (white) bags resulted in a drier

product with less ammonia

• The Solvita maturity index suggested that the 8 week bag process

produced product with a maturity level of 4, suggesting further

composting and curing was required

• The resulting product after windrowing is awesome – but completely

dependent on the weather (which turned rainy in September while all

the windrows were still outside)

John Paul, Ph.D. President

Transform Compost Systems Ltd.

Abbotsford, BC Canada

Email: [email protected]

www.transformcompostsystems.com

Assisting the BC Poultry Industry with

Positive Birds and Manure

Transform Compost Systems

Transform Compost Systems worked with the Sustainable Poultry

Farming group to assist some of the poultry producers that were

affected by the Avian Flu

We followed four principles outlined by the CFIA when developing

the protocol for treatment of the manure from farms that tested

positive for Avian Flu.

• Minimize aerosol formation

• Minimize human health risk

• Ensure adequate pathogen kill

• Be practical

Developing the Protocols

• The manure was somewhat mixed

in the barn, then transferred by

conveyor to a vertical auger mixer

that blended the wet with the dry

• No other carbon or bulking agent

added

• Result – no aerosols and a blend

that self heated within 12 hours

The Protocol for Broiler – Breeder Manure

• The blend was windrowed using an Artex manure

box

• The surface was sprayed and lime applied to the

edge of the pile to control dark-winged beetles

• The pile was covered with a vapor barrier

• The pile was then covered with 4” of sawdust for

insulation



Temperature in Poultry Litter Windrows

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 2 4 6 8 10

Time (days)

Tem

pera

ture

oC

6"

3'

• CFIA Sign-Off - Release to Spread


• Some of the layer manure was very wet – 70 to 80%

moisture and very dense

• No concern with aerosols – big concern with heat

development

The Protocol for Layer Manure

• The layer manure was blended with up to 1:1 manure to

sawdust or shavings (by volume)

• The windrow formation and management stayed the same

as for broiler breeders.


• The last farm varied – we added forced aeration

• The poultry industry wanted rapid signoff on the manure

• Manure:sawdust in 1:1 v:v ratio

• 3” pipes on plastic on ground under a 14 ft wide by 6 ft high pile


• We achieved 70 C within 24 hours – signoff in 3 days

• There was negligible odor


Summary

• The protocol was successful 100% of the time

• Virus kill was achieved with minimal cost

• We used no to minimal bulking agent (maximum 1:1 by

volume with wet layer manure)

• There were no odor concerns and no flies associated

with process

• Passive aeration was successful with this virus

• Forced aeration is required to achieve higher

temperatures that may be required for other pathogenic

organisms

Other Interesting Tidbits

• We composted 31 tonnes of

chicken and eggs 90 ft from the

farm house.

• Recipe was 75% chicken and

eggs by weight

• Forced aeration on static pile

with biofilter material on top

• Zero odor

Other Interesting Tidbits

• We tried lime stabilization on manure – using quicklime

• Achieved 80 C in minutes

• Too much caustic lime dust

• Not conducive to batch process

avian bird flu response in bc - composting birds and manure flu... · 2016-02-19 · avian bird flu...

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