By: Aidan Gillespie
Category Manager
Farmers Depot
The advantages of incineration over other deadstock disposal methods include:
• Incineration offers the opportunity to eliminate deadstock inside the perimeter of the barn. With all other methods, it is necessary to move the deadstock outside the barn. The process of moving deadstock to a resting place outside of the perimeter of the barn represents a biosecurity risk via the equipment used to transport the deadstock.
• When compared to composting, incineration does not attract scavengers, such as coyotes, bald eagles or turkey vultures. These animals are not scavenging exclusively at individual barns and pose a biosecurity risk as they can carry potential pathogens (or deadstock) from farm to farm.
• Incineration offers the quickest method of disposal eliminating the disease risk posed by storing deadstock on-site.
What to consider when selecting an Incinerator manufacturer:
There are few companies who specialize in the manufacturing of incinerators, and generally they market their products internationally. As we compared all the options within the industry, Farmers Depot selected AIS based on the following advantages:
01. Longest warranty in the industry – 3 years or 2,100 hours.
02. The incinerator chamber is made from a monolithic concrete pour with stainless steel anchors, rather than brick, making it the industry leading option for longevity.
03. Deadstock is reduced to ash representing 3% of original body weight. This is safe to utilize as fertilizer.
04. All models include a secondary chamber that burns the smoke at high temperatures, eliminating smoke and odour.
05. AIS offers multiple models to match the specific needs of swine or poultry farms.
06. AIS has partnered with Farmers Depot to do the servicing and supply parts locally, reducing maintenance and repairs costs for producers.
Incinerator Regulations
From a regulatory perspective, incineration is a viable option in Canada, with provincial authorities applying their specific requirements. For example, Ontario does have a regulatory requirement for incinerators within the province to have an ETV (Environmental Technology Verification) certification. At the time of writing, we are in the process of receiving this certification.
Government Assistance
The final opportunity is with grants from individual provinces for deadstock disposal. In the fall of 2024, Ontario had grants available for up to $100,000 per project, to a maximum of 3 projects per farm, at a cost share of 40% that is covered by the government. We are optimistic that the deadstock funding will once again return to help producers invest in protection of their animals and the livelihoods of those who care for those animals.
If you would like to learn more about incineration and receive a quote for an incinerator matched to your operations size, please reach out to me at: aidangillespie@farmersdepot.ca or 1-866-527-6229.
This article was written for the Spring 2025 Swine Grist. To read the whole Swine Grist, click the button below.
This article was also written for the Spring 2025 Western & Prairie Swine Grist. To read the whole Western Swine Grist, click the button below.