Value of Processed Poultry Waste as a Feed for Ruminants

Generally, the utilization of by products or waste materials in animal feeding is stimulated by three main interests. These are: (1) disposing of these wastes by beneficial and economical means, (2) reducing the contribution of these wastes to environmental pollution and (3) sparing the land used in the production of livestock feeds for crops which can be used directly for human consumption. Detailed chemical analyses have revealed that poultry waste contains a considerable amount of nutrients, particularly nitrogen (Bhattacharya and Fontenot, 1966; El-Sabban, 1968). Poultry waste bas received the attention of numerous workers to determine its usefulness when incorporated in rations for ruminants (Brugman et al., 1964; Bhattacharya and Fontenot, 1965; Ammerman et al., 1966; Rusnak, Long and King, 1966). Poultry waste has also been included in diets for swine (Camp, 1959) and for broiler chickens (Wehunt, Fuller and Edwards, 1960). The objectives of this research were to study: (1) the utilization of energy and nitrogen by sheep fed rations containing autoclaved and cooked poultry waste and (2) feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, meat acceptability, and pesticide residues in backfat and arsenic level in liver of beef cattle fed rations containing autoclaved and dried poultry waste.