| Approximately 85% of mink production in Nova Scotia occurs in Digby County. As a result of the small arable land-base in the county, the management of wastes generated by mink farms gives rise to environmental concerns. Furthermore, the manure and pelted mink carcasses serve as reservoirs for the Aleutian Disease (AD) virus. Composting mink wastes has the potential to overcome these challenges. The main objective of the present study was to characterize the process of composting mink manure and pelted mink carcasses. Three compost trials were conducted over a two-year period, in which the manure and carcasses were composted under covered and uncovered conditions, using sawdust as a carbon source. The temperature data indicated that, under suitable moisture conditions (54.0–60.4%), the composting of mink manure and sawdust has the ability to generate temperatures conducive to the eradication of the AD virus (≥60°C). (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
