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Committee backs bill to allow routine on-farm composting of livestock carcasses
Summary
AB 411 would permit ranchers to compost routine livestock mortalities outside of declared emergencies; backers said pilot research found composting kills pathogens and reduces predator visits compared with bone piles. The committee moved the bill to Natural Resources.
Assemblymember Pappen introduced AB 411, which would authorize routine on-farm composting of livestock carcasses as an alternative to limited rendering, burial or bone piles. "Currently, disposing of deceased animals can be complicated and costly," Pappen said. "This bill extends the right to compost beyond emergencies, offering ranchers and small-scale meat processors a sustainable solution for everyday carcass disposal."
Researchers and ranchers who testified said studies performed under agency exemptions showed whole-carcass composting reduced predator visits and produced a stable compost product without elevated heavy metals or pathogens. Dr. Casey D'Atlee, an associate professor and rancher, said his team tested over 30 compost cycles and found carcasses composted in 90 days (whole carcasses) or 45 days (butcher waste) using on-ranch materials and equipment. "Our trail camera data showed nearby bone piles received an average of 341 predator visits compared to only eight visits at the compost pile," he said.
The California Cattlemen's Association co-sponsored the bill and said composting would reduce predator conflict and support regenerative ranching practices. Representatives of the rendering industry testified in opposition unless amended, expressing concerns about impacts to rendering businesses and proposing limits such as restricting composting to livestock producers and areas not served by rendering collection centers.
Committee members acknowledged both the operational needs of rural ranchers and concerns from the rendering industry. Pappen said ongoing stakeholder discussions would continue. The committee voted to pass AB 411 to the Natural Resources Committee. The roll call recorded ayes from Soria, Alanis, Aguiar-Curry, Connolly, Gonzales, Hadwick and Ransom (7 ayes).
