2006 PSU PDA Cattle Composting Study Hobo Data Loggers J. Craig Williams Penn State Coop. Extension Composting.cas.psu.edu

NACAA AM/PIC Basic Mortality Composting Project Onset Data Loggers Experiences J. Craig Williams, Dairy Agronomy Agent –Tioga County, Pa –16 Years Extension

Natural Rendering: Composting Livestock Mortality Penn State and Pa Dept of Agriculture Composting procedures Downer cow update/ Dead cow update Cornell Waste Mgnt. Int. And Maine Compost Team

Siting for Composting Select site that is well-drained, at least 200 ft from water courses, sinkholes, seasonal seeps or other landscape features that indicate the area is hydrologically sensitive.

Wood Chip Bed Lay 24-in bed of bulky, absorbing organic material containing some sizeable pieces (4 to 6-in long). Utility and municipal wood chips work well.

Recipe for Small Animals For young animals, layer mortalities with a minimum of 2 feet of co-composting material.

Recipe for Large Animal

Covering Carcass Cover carcass with dry, high-carbon co- composting material, like old silage, sawdust, or dry stall bedding (some semi- solid manure will expedite the process).

Composting continued Let set for 4-6 months. Turn only if desired after 3 months. Reuse bones as part of next base. Reuse old compost 6 month old Compost

Onset Hobo Data Loggers Onset – Data Loggers and Weather stations –Indoor, Outdoor, Underwater and Tilt/Acc. –Hobo U $199 –20 Foot cable-$35 each Total$339 set up –Shuttle $169 –Boxcar Software $99 Total $268 Office hobologgers.com PSU PDA Project was to document Real Farm Composting temperature, including internal carcass

HOBO 008

Graphing

Cow Compost

Dairy Farm Cow Temps

HOBO Data Recorders every 6 hours for 6 months Start January March

Bishop

Started Second Pile Late January -July

ID Temperature points

Start June to August 2006

Hobo Recorders