Zoonoses: Recommendations to farmers that reduce the risk of botulism in cattle arising from the use of broiler litter as fertiliser
Current recommendations to reduce the risk of botulism:
(i) For Ruminant Farmers:
- If at all possible do not import broiler litter onto ruminant farms
- Move stock away from nearby fields, including those on neighbouring premises, if litter is stored or spread on fields.
- Litter containing visible carcase material must not be spread as fertiliser.
- The Animal By Products Regulations (Anon (2005) The Animal By-Products 2005, ISBN 0110732804 Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 2347) requires that carcase material must be disposed of by incineration or rendering.
- If using litter for fertiliser do not spread on pasture used for grazing or from which forage is conserved and keep livestock as far from it as possible.
- When using litter as fertiliser on arable fields, plough in the litter as soon as possible minimising the storage period when scavenging animals and birds could gain access.
- If storing litter for a period on the farm e.g. in order to compost
it or as a result of prevailing weather, this must be secure –
- the storage facility should prevent access by scavenging birds and animals
- site the litter store as far as possible from livestock on home and neighbouring farms
- comply with relevant environmental regulations
- store litter in a secure enclosure constructed with wooden sleepers, concrete or earth walls
- secure the litter store once filled to deter access by scavengers e.g. cover with cattle manure and slurry, or use properly weighted and secured strong tarpaulin
- Ensure that machinery used for litter is not used for storing, mixing or moving feedstuffs
- do not use litter as bedding for ruminants
- Adopt good personal hygiene when moving or spreading litter
and
(ii) Additional recommendations for Poultry Producers:
- It is illegal to use litter containing carcase material as fertiliser – normally rendering or incineration are the only permitted routes for carcase disposal: all carcase material must be removed from the litter before sending it for use as fertiliser and disposed of in accordance with the Animal By Products Regulations, by incineration or rendering.
- Ideally, remove litter from buildings and transport immediately to an incineration site
- If unable to transport off the farm immediately, securely store litter after removal from housing, as detailed previously for ruminant farmers.
For veterinary surgeons whose clients are faced with the risk of further outbreaks of botulism in ruminants, such as those with broiler units who use their own litter as fertiliser, or for premises adjacent to broiler units, a bivalent Clostridium botulinum types C and D vaccine manufactured by Fort Dodge is available for use in cattle and sheep and can be obtained by applying to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for a ‘Special Treatment Certificate STC'.
Page last modified: 4 December 2006