The aim of present study was to evaluate the performance of four poultry carcasses composting systems through daily temperature monitoring, in the absence and presence of Salmonella sp., total (TC) and faecal coliforms (FC) number and nutrients recycling. The evaluated systems were: Piles with aeration (1), Piles without aeration (2), Composters with aeration (3) and Composters without aeration (4). The process was carried out in two stages. The first stage was performed by arranging the carcasses with straw and water. In the second stage the compostage mass was transferred to a composting area where the material was revolved and wetted weekly until stabilization. The presence of Salmonella sp in the systems 2 and 4 at the end of the first stage was detected disappearing after the second one. In the compost a reduction in the number of TC and FC and of N and C contents as well as an increase in the rest of nutrients by the end of second stage was observed. It may be concluded that it is possible to perform the poultry carcass composting in anyone of the evaluated systems and is important to perform a second stage in the composting process to eliminate pathogens as well as to obtain a compost with better agronomic characteristics.
temperature; total and faecal coliforms; Salmonella sp.; nutrient recycling
