Intensive Farming

Livestock Mortality Composting Welfare

Appropriate management of livestock mortality including disease-free disposal reduces disease risk to surviving animals and supports flock welfare.

Key Facts

Rapid removal of mortalities reduces disease transmission to surviving animals
Composting is a biosecure and environmentally appropriate mortality management method
Leaving mortalities in pens causes distress in social species
Mortality management is a welfare indicator for the surviving herd or flock

Welfare Considerations

Livestock that remain in pens with dead companions experience distress from their social understanding of mortality. Disease spread from unmanaged mortalities creates welfare risk to survivors. Composting provides biologically secure disposal that reduces pathogen spread. Mortality management quality is itself a welfare indicator reflecting the overall management ethos of the operation.

What You Can Do

Support farms with documented mortality management protocols
Advocate for mortality management requirements in welfare audits
Buy from farms demonstrating appropriate mortality management
Back research into mortality management best practices for different species