Follow do’s and don’ts for livestock disposal You can burn, bury
or compost carcasses, says Chris Augustin, area nutrient
management specialist at North Dakota State University’s
Carrington Research Extension Center. But burning and burying
have drawbacks, he says. When burying dead animals, you need to
avoid areas with sandy soils and shallow water tables. The site
should be nearly level to moderately sloping and at least 200
feet away from surface water. The bottom of the disposal pit
should be at least 4 feet above the water table and underlain
with loamy, silty, clay soils. Carcasses should be covered by 4
feet of soil. Also, do not locate the burial pit near
residences, wells, shallow aquifers or areas that may be
flooded, and avoid pipelines, utility easements and historically
significant sites. Burning can be difficult because the law
requires use of organic fuels, such as wood, which can make
creating enough heat to effectively combust a carcass difficult.
Also, the state Department of Health must gra