Survival of Parasite Eggs in Livestock Slurry Utilized for Compost Heat

Abstract

Aerobic composting of pig slurry in a prototype plant in the field periodically resulted in adequate killing of Ascaris-eggs, but on two occasions, 15 and 27% respectively of the eggs were still able to embryonate after treatment. The survival of some eggs is suggested partly to be caused by sedimentation and uneven mixing of the material in the composting tank. Eggs of cattle trichostrongylids in faeces deposited in composting slurry at 30°C survived for less than 7 days, at 37°C, these eggs were dead after one day's storage. Ascaris-eggs showed no reduction in viability after being stored for 3 weeks at a composting temperature of 30°C. At 37°C, most of the Ascaris-eggs were dead after two weeks, and all eggs were dead after 31 days.

Key Words:

• Ostertagia
• Cooperia
• Ascaris
• cattle
• pig