Final disposal of cattle carcasses and necropsy remains under field conditions

Abstract

Objectives To describe means for disposing organic waste from bovine necropsies carried out on-farm, and to look for associated factors. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in 421 rural Veterinarians on the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis included χ2, Fisher's exact test, and Spearman's correlation. Results Ninety percent of respondents (n=381) performed necropsies. The most frequent practice was to leave the remains in the place where it was carried out or to take them to a specific site, while the least frequent was to cover them with calcium hydroxide and plastic membranes. The geographical region of professional practice was associated in various ways to waste management. These results show inconsistencies in the protocols for organic waste disposal under field conditions in the region under study. Conclusions It is important to encouraged during undergraduate studies both legal and biological knowledge on the consequences of inappropriate disposal of biopathogenic waste. Moreover, continuing education programs for graduates should include standardized protocols for the safe execution of these practices.