Iowa DNR News
Environmental Services Division

For Immediate Release
Feb. 6, 2006
For more information, contact Jeff Vansteenburg or Cindy Garza at 
641-424-4073.

EARLY MORNING FIRE DESTROYS HOGS AND BUILDINGS NEAR MARBLE ROCK

MARBLE ROCK * An early morning fire Saturday destroyed hogs housed in five 
small
hog confinement buildings south of Marble Rock in Floyd County.

There are no immediate environmental impacts expected after the fire almost
completely destroyed the interconnected buildings at Rottler Farms, owned by
Gary Rottler of Greene. About 1500 hogs, including 80 sows, about 450 
piglets
and 1,000 small, weaned pigs perished in the fire.

"I recommended composting as the best solution for disposing of the hog
carcasses," said Cindy Garza, an environmental specialist of the Mason City 
DNR
field office. Garza added that composting can be cost effective, plus it 
reduces
the materials taken to the landfill and can later be land applied to provide
crop nutrients.

"We try to avoid burying large numbers of dead hogs, because of the risks to
ground water," said Garza. "Rendering or taking the dead hogs to a landfill 
are
other options."

She added that the DNR is working with the producer to develop a disposal 
plan
for the hogs and the buildings, and that the producer is baling all the tin 
in
the roofs for recycling.

"Another concern we have is that some of the other solid waste material 
might
contain asbestos, which has to meet special requirements for disposal," she
said.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

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