Responses of growing turkeys to the dietary inclusion of inedible pasta and unextruded and extruded biosolids from milk processing

Milk solids from a milk processing plant were dried, ground and either extruded or unextruded. Unextruded biosolids (UBS), extruded biosolids (EBS) and pasta were evaluated as dietary ingredients for growing turkeys. In experiment one, true metabolizable energy (TME) concentrations were determined to be 5.0 kJ (1.2 kcal) g−1 for UBS and EBS, and 18.0 kJ (4.3 kcal) g−1 for pasta. In experiment two, growing turkeys were fed a control diet or diets containing 50, 100 or 200 g UBS per kg diet. Feed intakes were not different among treatments, but weight gains for the 200 UBS treatment were lower than for controls. In experiment three, growing turkeys were fed six diets: control, 200 g pasta, 200 g pasta + 100 g UBS, 200 g pasta + 200 g UBS, 200 g pasta + 100 g EBS, or 200 g pasta + 200 g EBS per kg diet. Intakes, weights and weight gains for pasta and pasta plus biosolids treatments were higher than controls. In experiment four, growing turkeys were fed a control diet or diets containing 100 g UBS, 200 g UBS, 100 g EBS or 200 g EBS per kg diet. On day 54, intakes, weights and weight gains were the same for all treatments. On day 124, feed intakes were lower for the 200 UBS and 200 EBS treatments compared to the other treatments. Weights and weight gains were highest on the 100 EBS treatment, followed by controls and the other biosolids treatments. Diet had little effect on meat composition or sensory qualities. The TME of pasta was equal to that of corn; diets containing 200 g pasta kg−1 supported an acceptable performance in growing turkeys. Up to 100 g biosolids per kg diet could be fed to growing turkeys without adverse effects on health or performance. EBS exhibited higher gains than UBS. These coproducts could be used as feeds for growing turkeys, for conserving resources, for reducing pollution and for adding value.