Dehydrated Poultry Waste as a Feed for Milking Cows and Growing Sheep

Abstract

Dehydrated feces from caged layers were fed to milking cows to provide 23% of total dietary protein and 11% of total dry matter intake and to fattening sheep to provide 61 or 90% of total dietary protein and 25 or 50% of feed intake. Cows fed these dehydrated feces produced more milk than those fed inadequate protein and produced equal amount to those fed usual protein supplements. Sheep fed rations containing 25 or 50% dehydrated feces gained .16 and .15 kg/day which was significantly less than those fed a control corn-corn cob-soybean meal ration (.21 kg/day). Carcass grade of those fed 25% feces was equal to that of control lambs. When the dehydrated feces cost $20/908 kg, then feed cost per unit gain was similar to that of control lambs. Results indicate the feasibility of using relatively large amounts of dehydrated caged layer feces as a nitrogen and energy source for cows and lambs. © 1972, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.