Dead cattle disposal poses conundrum for county

The Times-Standard ^ | March 25, 2003 | James Tressler

[farmfriend]

Dead cattle disposal poses conundrum for county

By James Tressler The Times-Standard

EUREKA -- Ever since Eureka Protein Co. abruptly closed its doors last month, farmers and ranchers all over Humboldt County have had the same problem:

There's virtually no place for them to dispose of dead livestock.

The bigger problem, some worry, is that with high costs and a declining market for the product, called tallow, it may be difficult -- and expensive -- to persuade anyone to fill the void left by Eureka Protein.

A team of Humboldt County officials, ranchers and farmers met Monday to talk over some possible solutions. All involved say they're committed to finding answers, but also agree there aren't any easy ones.

"We have a range of options, unfortunately they all look like they might be expensive," said 1st District Supervisor Jimmy Smith, who represents a number of farmers and ranchers in his mostly rural district south of Eureka. "We'll wade through them and try to come up with the best solution we can."

Until its closure last month, Eureka Protein processed anywhere between 600,000 to 800,000 pounds of animal remains per month. The company trucked the remains to Modesto, where they were used to make fertilizer and other products. But the company reportedly lost in excess of $100,000 last year to transportation costs, particularly for gasoline. Such costs, combined with what industry people say is a declining demand for tallow, eventually forced Eureka Protein's owner, Modesto Tallow Co., to downsize.

Chico-based North State Rendering, which has operated in Eureka and Crescent City the past few years, is taking over Eureka Protein's butcher and restaurant accounts. While the company has indicated it would take on tallow from this area at its operation in Chico, it won't come and pick it up here because it's too costly.

Eureka Protein charged about $75 per animal, but that's a pittance compared to the actual cost of disposal, said Jacqueline Debets, county economic development coordinator who's helping find a proposed solution.

Debets, along with other county officials and the agriculture community, is trying to develop a business plan based on realistic costs -- which Debets said may be as high as $240 per animal, when taking processing, staff, transportation and other business costs into account.

Technically the disposal of dead livestock isn't the county's problem. But Debets said the county wants to work with the ranching and farming communities as part of the county's ongoing efforts to support these industries. The dairy industry in particular has already been hit hard recently by depressed milk prices.

But as much as county officials would like to help solve the tallow problem, the county's coffers are faced with millions of dollars in state budget cuts next year. That means it can scarcely afford to pay to reopen the former Eureka Protein facility, or start its own program.

Debets said the county can explore grants and other such funding sources, which could be used once they decide on an alternative. Some of the alternatives suggested already include finding a private individual or company to take over the business, or finding people willing for a fee to bury dead livestock on their property. Because of fears of disease such as Mad Cow disease, burial of animals on private property is subject to heavy restrictions. For instance, they can't be buried in areas that can flood -- which basically includes most of the Eel River Valley, where a number of dairy farmers make their living.

But livestock can be buried in places located on high ground and away from drinking water sources as well as residences and public areas, according to information released by the county Department of Agriculture.

Other options that have been considered include a special district assessment, which most say probably wouldn't be popular, and possibly exploring the idea of letting farmers and ranchers use the tallow to make compost.

These suggestions and others will be discussed further at a public meeting set for next Monday at 10 a.m. at the county Agricultural Center at 5630 South Broadway in Eureka.

[farmfriend]

This a problem that will hit Sacramento soon if they shut down the rendering plant. That down wind housing development is so important.

[farmfriend]

ping

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[bigfootbob]

This area could support an incinerator. Sweden has abandoned recycling in favor of incinerating refuse to generate power. This would kill two birds with one stone, refuse and costly electricity. Dead cows burn.

[B.O. Plenty]

"But the company reportedly lost in excess of $100,000 last year to transportation costs, particularly for gasoline.".........California is about to find out just how much environmentllism really costs. I hear that gasoline is approaching $3.00 a gallon there because of reformulation mandates of the California legislature. I will not be surprised if other fuel sensitive industries leave California, like, say trucking companies, cab companies, delivery services, and....if they are not dead already, airlines et al.....

[Hacksaw]

How about the Eureka Vulture and Crow Company?

[Servant of the Nine]

The Swiss had been taking care of dead cattle up on steep mountain pastures, by blowing them up with plastic explosives).
They have had to switch to helicopter extraction after getting complaints from the wussie.
I don't know why that wouldn't work here. If a farmer can blow stumps, he ought to be able to do the same with a cow.

So9

[dasher]

Blowing up cows? Kinda like this whale?

http://perp.com/whale/video.html :)

[Servant of the Nine]

That is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

The secret is to use a high velocity plastic explosive that will disintigrate the carcass, not a low velocity dynamite that will just toss chunks around.

So9

[B4Ranch]

I've never tried to burn any of my stock that died. Generally, the coyotes and birds will do a pretty good job of cleaning an animal down to the bone. I have sped this by gutting the animal, allowing the small predators to get into the carcass before the organs have rotted.

I have also used the backhoe to dispose of the occasional animal that died closer to the residence with digging a eight foot hole and dousing the carcass with a bag of hot lime. In 48 to 72 hours the ground was level again indicating the lime ate the carcass.

Now to get back to burning, I have no idea at what temperature animal fat burns. I don't believe that the average steer has enough fat to dispose of the entire carcass. Perhaps propane or another fuel would be needed to complete the task.

[farmfriend]

I paid $2.34 for Supreme this morning. Environmentalism is costing us more than just dollars but that is a whole 'nother thread.

[bigfootbob]

"I have also used the backhoe to dispose of the occasional animal that died closer to the residence with digging a eight foot hole and dousing the carcass with a bag of hot lime. In 48 to 72 hours the ground was level again indicating the lime ate the carcass."

Most ranchers I know do the same.

I would assume it's possible to burn carcasses along with the other flammable refuse at an incinerator.

We have an exotic game farm close to where I live that accepts all road kill and various livestock animals, and small white tail deer I kill in my production field I don't eat, provided you haul it out to the farm. Perhaps some industrious rancher could establish a critter farm to eat the dead cattle. It drives the lefties and peta types insane. hehe

[B4Ranch]

I would imagine the reason for accepting road kills is to feed them to the exotic game. Perhaps cities might accept dead cattle to feed to their zoo animals.

[CFW]

I have also used the backhoe to dispose of the occasional animal that died closer to the residence with digging a eight foot hole and dousing the carcass with a bag of hot lime. In 48 to 72 hours the ground was level again indicating the lime ate the carcass.

I assume this is accompanied by a solemn service followed by the placement of a suitable, dignified marker?

[Revelation 911]

Perhaps some industrious rancher could establish a critter farm to eat the dead cattle

I smell an african theme park LOL

[B4Ranch]

This is accompanied by a solemn slow cussing at the loss of income. Markers are unnecessary, I will remember where that $1000.00 was buried.

[CFW]

This is accompanied by a solemn slow cussing at the loss of income. Markers are unnecessary, I will remember where that $1000.00 was buried.

It's rough isn't it? I raise goats, so it's not quite that much in each "burial hole", but it can add up quickly. In addition, I get attached to the little fellers and hate it when I lose one.

[bigfootbob]

F.Y.I. The Seattle Zoo has a 3 year waiting list for zoo animal crap! I believe they call it "Zoo Do".

I see all kinds of potential here.