Compost disposal of goat: Safe for vegetable garden?

[HillBunker]

Sad post for me. Our 9 year old pygmy goat was euthanized a few minutes ago. Broken jaw, anemic, and neurological symptoms most likely due to some sort of cancer. We had been nursing him for over a month now and it was time to let him go.

The vet saw my compost piles and suggested composting as the easiest form of disposal. Our typical piles are about 10' diameter and 6-7' high consisting of sheep and chicken bedding, household scraps, leaves, and (seasonally) fresh cut grass. I just seeded a new pile and its time to empty the animal stalls so we will have a hot pile shortly.

I know the body will compost fine but wanted to make sure that the resulting compost is safe to use on our vegetable garden. I haven't taken core temp readings (will from now on) but when I turn new piles they're usually smoking quite a bit and very hot to the touch. Should temps be high enough to kill anything of concern? He's about 50-60lbs as a frame of reference and we turn with our IH454 w/ front loader.

Hoping for some quick and knowledgeable responses.... thanks for the help.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I'd do it, but make sure that pile ages well. How long do you usually compost before putting it on the garden? I do two years.

[HillBunker]

I'm ashamed to admit I don't age/rest very long. After I start a pile, I turn every 1-2 weeks (almost religiously), watch moisture level, and then incorporate it after 8-12 months. I know it's not ideal but I'm trying to amend our soil in several areas. If need be, I can set this pile aside for longer to age or just not use it for the vegetable garden at all but for flowers and trees instead. I always give the veggie garden priority to compost but still want to be safe.

[fishhead]

I can't see why it wouldn't be safe.

[the mama]

As long as the animal does not die of disease, I compost all fatalities on our farm. Never had any problems, I sift the compost and any pieces that don't go thru a 1/2" by 1" hole, gets returned to compost longer. I usually compost for a year.

[plowjockey]

Originally Posted by HillBunker

I'm ashamed to admit I don't age/rest very long. After I start a pile, I turn every 1-2 weeks (almost religiously), watch moisture level, and then incorporate it after 8-12 months. I know it's not ideal but I'm trying to amend our soil in several areas. If need be, I can set this pile aside for longer to age or just not use it for the vegetable garden at all but for flowers and trees instead. I always give the veggie garden priority to compost but still want to be safe.

I have never seen a time minimum for composting. If it looks like compost, then it likely is compost. Besides there ar many factors, that determine how fast piles "turn".

Sound's like your compost heap are well cared for, so if the carcass is dissolved and has no trace, It would work for me.

[HillBunker]

Thank you all for the feedback. Our buddy is now a part of the HillBunker Circle of Life. Seeded well with active compost and put 650+lbs of urine soaked sheep manure and bedding on top. Hopefully I'll have time to clear out the chicken pen this week and add that as well. I'll give it a good month (maybe two) before the first turn and keep an eye on it. Thanks again to the HST forum, you guys are great.

[MaineFarmMom]

IN GENERAL - it's safe to use the compost when the compost is finished. There's no need to let finished compost age. HOWEVER - be sure to research the drug used in euthanasia. I don't know what happens to the drug.

[Astrid]

If you've ever read the Humanure Handbook, the author says to mix manure or animal carcasses with vegetation to promote aeration. He also never turns his compost. He puts a thermometer in it to keep track of the temperature and then after one bin is full he lets it age for an extra year to ensure any pathogens are killed. We have begun to compost this way and have incorporated dead chickens and rabbits. We'll see in another year how it works out for us.

[cowbelle]

Forerunner talks of composting large animals in his large piles - look in the back posts for his experience. I wouldn't turn it so soon - you're very liable to find only partially decomposed body - not very appetizing. Let it lie and check for the hot temperatures. One or two months will not be enough, I'm quite sure. J*

[motdaugrnds]

I'm sorry for your loss.

I see nothing harmful about composting that carcass as suggested above. I simply cannot do it when my goats die as they have all been pets; so we bury them around what we call our "burial tree". Yeah, sentimental!