"Flowerfly" recently sent me an email asking a question I get from time to time.....how to dispose of slaughter waste. I can't say how other people do it, but here's how I handle the waste on my own farm.
First, nothing gets wasted, that is...thrown away in the trash.
Fur and feathers --
...added to a hot compost pile. If the pile is hot, there is no smell, no flies.
...added in the layers that make up my pallet grow boxes. Again, if I use manures, moisture, and green waste the contents gets hot, resulting in no odor or flies.
...placed in the bottom of a hole dug for a new tree, covered over well & mixed with dirt before planting the tree.
Blood --
...collected and added to the food for pigs, chickens, or dogs.
Intestines --
...I'll squeeze out the manure, then add them to the cook pot for the chickens and pigs.
Rest of guts --
...cooked for pigs, chickens, dogs, or cats.
The rest (heads, feet, etc) --
...cooked for pigs, chickens, dog, or cats. Any bones not consumed will get thrown into the wood stove and burnt. These are then collected, crushed, and used as a source of phosphorus for the gardens.
I don't feed slaughter waste raw, especially to my dogs. I don't want them learning that the other livestock is edible food. It would be like training the dogs to kill and eat the chickens, ducks, rabbits, etc. Right now they don't associate the cooked items with the live animals. I'd like to keep it that way.
I don't generate much slaughter waste myself, but I do get bags of it dropped off at my farm gate on a regular basis. Many hunters drop off waste in exchange for taro, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, and assorted veggies.
Sounds like barter system is alive and well on the Big Island. N'est ce-pas? - Renee
ReplyDeleteMy bartering system took several years to develop. I find that many people are amenable to trades. It all depends upon their situation and the items being offered. It is a network system that promotes community ties, and I like it.
Delete