Inspection report on two Quebec-based on-farm pig carcass composting sites

In Quebec, pork carcasses are currently taken away by a sole meat salvager. Costs have rocketed, and the expenses involved have been passed on in full to the producer. Quebec farmers have the possibility of incinerating their carcasses on the farm, but this remains a very expensive option.In order to validate carcass composting in terms of biosafety, Quebec province has conducted tests on 4 breeding sites equipped with a silo composting system or a barrel composting process with forced ventilation by regular daily turning.Cost per treated tonne is close to CA$110 for the first system and CA$104 for the second system (€74 per tonne). This works out as significantly less than the current fixed cost in France of €290 per tonne and the rate charged by meat salvagers in Québec (€153 per tonne).