Since 2002 T and D Neufeld Farms, a 16 hundred sow early wean unit near Niverville, has been using in-vessel composting for the disposal of dead sows, boars and weanlings.

The composting unit, a BIOvator manufactured and distributed by the Puratone Corporation, replaced the periodic pick up of deadstock by the local rendering company.

Ted Neufeld says the costs of the two options are similar but the main advantage of the BIOvator is it offers superior biosecurity.

Ted Neufeld-T and D Neufeld Farms

In terms of the initial cost, the purchase of the BIOvator, it is probably more expensive than a bunker style compost operation.

The composter itself runs approximately 35 to 45 thousand dollars.

The whole composter runs on one one horse power motor so the electricity bills are very very minimal.

It only runs approximately two hours per day on a one horse power motor so it's a matter of pennies per day.

The shavings, I go through approximately one thousand dollars worth of shavings on my 16 hundred sow operation per year.

In comparison to a cooler and Rothsay picking it up, I would say that it's very very comparable in costs.

Neufeld estimates it takes two to three days for the composting to begin and, within four to five days, the animal is fully composted together with the shavings.

He says the end product, a combination of compost and shavings, is spread on the farms fields.