Identifying & Assessing the Potential Transfer of Contaminants from Feedlot Waste Products

Summary

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has identified the need for cost effective, practical management recommendations for the treatment and handling of manure and effluent for the intensive livestock and processing industries. Before any recommendations can be made however, the industry needs to collect further information, particularly with respect to the impact of waste treatment and application practices on human and animal health.

This project combined two studies FLOT.216 An evaluation of the risk of the potential transfer of contaminants from waste products from intensive cattle and sheep industries and FLOT.217 Identifying waste management practices in intensive cattle and sheep industries to minimise the potential transfer of contaminants

The objectives to be addressed within the project were to:

1. Provide a risk assessment for the potential transfer of contaminants from treated animal wastes; and

2. Identify and evaluate current industry practice for the treatment of waste products, and the requirements of the end use industries with regard to contaminants.

The focus of the project was on the feedlot industry only. The project team investigated products/contaminants likely to have a human or animal health effect. Products or applications with an environmental focus (eg. rehabilitation of land, forestry) were not covered. The range of risks to be identified and assessed included zoonotic diseases, pathogens, heavy metals, viruses and parasites.