Optimizing Slaughterhouse Waste Composts for Use as Soil Amendments in Nova Scotia.

Mortality composting has been widely applied in the livestock industry as a means of disposal and for use as an agricultural soil. Information on the composition of slaughterhouse waste composts, such as pH, C:N ratio, and nutrient content, is important for effective use as a soil amendment. In this study, the effect of two different carbon sources, straw and sawdust, was evaluated on ruminant slaughterhouse waste composting. The carbon sources were selected based on differences in particle size and chemical composition. The initial ingredients were ground and mixed into a homogenous pile and the compost piles were turned and sampled every two weeks. Total and organic carbon, total and inorganic nitrogen, C:N ratio, temperature, moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, and changes in the mass of each compost pile were measured throughout the study. Extreme temperature differences between the straw and sawdust treatments were observed. Sawdust and slaughterhouse waste compost piles sustained higher temperatures for longer periods of time than the straw/slaughterhouse waste compost. Temperature in both treatments increased to >60°C within 48 hours after each mixing. Differences between treatments were also observed for most other measured parameters.