Progress 04/01/18 to 03/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of the last year of the project was livestock producers, consultants, and other educators in the Midwestern U.S. Although it was not in this project's scope, I also connected with livestock producers and government workers in Japan, fighting against classical swine fewer. I believe any effort spent to contain an animal disease anywhere in the world helps the U.S. to stay disease-free. Changes/Problems:Due to COVID-19, we were unable to have in-person workshops in the last year of the project (previously we had workshops). We delivered our content online, which helped us to reach out to a broader audience. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project was a part of a master's student's dissertation. He completed his degree in May 2020. The project also gave an undergraduate student in agricultural engineering the opportunity to gain some research experience. As PI of the project, Igained some experience in delivering the content online llast summer and this year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?During the course of the study (threeyears), the results were disseminated through: M.S. thesis Two peer-reviewed manuscripts Presented at the 2019 ASABE meeting University of Illinois CLMT Moodle site Reported during the NCCC-09 multi-state annual meeting Shared with Illinois pork producers through site visits and presenting at their annual meeting Shared with Japanese swine producers through personnel contact What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the final report, and there won't be another reporting period. However, we will continue to share the study results and utilize livestock producers' experience to train Extension educators who will eventually train the livestock producers on best management practices in disposing of diseased animal mortalities. We are grateful for the funding provided. Now, this study is a part of the Illinois Certified Livestock Manager Training program, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Research activities were completed during the first year of the project. In the last two years, we focused on promoting the developed biosecure composting system. Since in-person Extension activities were restricted in 2020-2021 due to the impacts of COVID-19, we utilized an online platform to deliver the content. We incorporated the results of the study into the Illinois Certified Livestock Manager Training (CLMT) program, which is delivered through the University of Illinois Extension Moodle website (go.illinois.edu/CLMT). As of today, a total of 299 farmers have completed the training and been certified. The website contains training videos and a pool of quiz questions (123 questions). Although the project has been completed, we will continue to maintain this online training program, giving us a chance to share the study results further. One goal is to have the videos and quiz questions in Spanish to extend the program's visibility. It was not in the scope of this study, but one achievement was to connect with Japanese livestock producers and government workers to share the results of this study. The video prepared for Moodle site has been translated into Japanese (other funding sources were utilized) to help Japanese producers who are struggling with classical swine fever (CST) disease. This video will be posted on our Extension website (go.illinois.edu/lfmm) in the following weeks.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Costa, T., N. Akdeniz, R.S. Gates, J.F. Lowe, Z. and Zhang. 2021. Testing the plastic-wrapped composting system to dispose of swine mortalities during an animal disease outbreak. Journal of Environmental Quality, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20235
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Costa, T. and N. Akdeniz. 2021. Airflow characteristics of animal mortality composting systems. Transactions of the ASABE (Under Review).
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Costa, T. 2020. Design and evaluation of a biosecure composting system to dispose of swine mortalities during a foreign animal disease outbreak. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Progress 04/01/19 to 03/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience was livestock producers, consultants, Extension specialists/educators, APHIS representatives, other researchers, and students. Changes/Problems:There is no major change in the project objectives. The only addition is that when Extension publications are prepared, ASF concerns will be also addressed. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project was a part of a master student's dissertation. Hesuccessfully passed his MS exam on April 9, 2020. The project also gave an undergraduate student in Agricultural Engineering the opportunity to gain some research experience. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of the study were presented in the workshops and meetings of the commodity groups. In addition to those mentioned above, the results were also disseminated in the 2019 North American Manure Expo and 2019 ASABE meeting. The poster presented in the North American Manure Expo won the best poster award. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project has been extended one year (no cost extension). When the project was written, there was no African swine fever outbreak in any country. Although COVID-19dominates headlines nowadays, African swine fever is still a huge concern affecting 20 countries in the world. In the last year of the project, Extension publications will be prepared. These publications will cover the mortality disposal during a possible ASF outbreak in the U.S.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A graduate student measuredthe physical parameters and airflow characteristics of three commonly used cover materials at four moisture levels, which could be utilized in designing actively aerated swine mortality composting systems (Obj 2). The main focus during the second year of the project was Extension activities (Obj 3). Organized and delivered two catastrophic animal mortality management workshops with the contribution of the University of Illinois Extension,Illinois Pork Producers Association, and the Illinois Beef Association (40 attendees). These workshops had field demonstrations. Audience: Livestock/poultry producers and APHIS/USDA. Impact: The program improved the knowledge (ave 41%), ability (ave 34%), and attitude (ave 27%) of the attendees.For example, the knowledge level regarding getting ready for an animal disease outbreak increased by 44%. After the workshops, the willingness of the producers to contact Illinois Extension for help changed from average to high. Focus area: Animal Healthand the Environment. Presented the results of the study in Illinois Swine Day organized by Illinois Pork Producers Association (December 2019). Met with the representatives of Carthage Veterinary Services in Illinois and shared the results of the study with them. The meeting encouraged them to prepare emergency preparedness plans to dispose of their animal mortalities during a foreign animal disease outbreak.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Costa, T. 2020. Design and evaluation of a biosecure composting system to dispose of swine mortalities during a foreign animal disease outbreak. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Costa, T., Akdeniz, N., Gates, R., Lowe, J. and Zhang, Y. 2020. A plastic-wrapped composting system to dispose of swine mortalities during an animal disease outbreak. Waste Management (Under Review).
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Progress 04/01/18 to 03/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:A review paper related to biosecure composting systems has been recently published and a peer-reviewed research paper is in preparation. They will be both presented at the 2019 ASABE meeting in Boston. The target audience forthese papers is other researchers, engineers, Extension specialists/educators, and consultants. Illinois Pork Producers Association Director (Jennifer Tirey) has been contacted and informed about the project. Ms. Tirey has promised to help to distribute the results of the study to Illinois pork producers. Illinois State Veterinarian (Mark Ernst) has been reached out to and informed about the project. Environment and Energy Stewardship (EES) Team forUniversity of Illinois Extension has been reached out to regarding the results of the project. As promised in the proposal, three composting workshops have been scheduled with the help of EES Extension educators. Once the project is completed, the Extension program developed during the second year of the project will becomea part of theseExtension educators' educational programs. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two graduate students and two undergraduate studentshavebeenhired. This project will also help some U of I Extension educators in program development related to livestock mortality composting systems. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been/will be disseminated through peer-reviewed papers, conference presentations, workshops with field demonstrations, and a fact sheet/narrated powerpoint presentation. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The planis to finish analyzing data collected during the field trial and submit a paper for publication. One of the problems we had during the field trial was the fly problem. This did not occur due to the composting process but it happened due to the surfaces that were contaminated while carrying the carcasses inside the composting sheds. A small-scale experiment has been designed to address this issue. That experiment will be completed before starting to make some suggestions to livestock producers. As mentioned above, threeworkshops will be held in August and a fact sheet/narrated presentation will be prepared.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1. A biosecure composting system has been developed and tested. Two aeration types (passive and active) and two cover materials (ground corn stalks and wood chips) were tested. Some statistically significant differences were found among thesetreatment groups. All experiments were completed using 6 ft by 8 ft composting sheds. Goal 2. The swine mortalities were spiked and air samples were collected using a cyclometerto test pathogen spreading during the first ten days of the composting process. Once the composting process wascompleted, moresamples were collected from the remaining tissues. Except for the control, all pathogen test results were negative. Goal 3. The last step of the project is to promote this biosecure composting system. Three livestock mortality composting workshops with field demonstrations have been scheduled. These workshops will be held in central, northern, and southern Illinois with the help of University of Illinois Extension educators and the Illinois Pork Producers Association from August 6th to August 20th. Once the workshops are completed, a fact sheet that summarizes the key findings of the study will be prepared.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Costa, T. and Akdeniz, N. 2019. A review of the animal disease outbreaks and biosecure animal mortality composting systems. Waste Management, 90: 121-131.
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