Processing and nutritive evaluation of broiler litter as livestock feed

Broiler litter was deep stacked at 30 and 40% moisture or ensiled at 40% moisture for 6 weeks in quadruplicate and subsequently evaluated for changes in chemical composition, pathogenic microbial load and in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD). A metabolism trial was conducted with lambs, in which a low-protein basal diet supplemented with litter, deep stacked at 30% and 40% moisture for 6 weeks or ensiled were compared with an isocaloric, isonitrogenous soybean meal supplemented diet. The maximum stack temperature of 65°C (irrespective of moisture level) was attained on day 7 at 45 cm depth and 60.5°C on day 10 at 80 cm depth, which eliminated coliforms. Increases in lactic and acetic acids were recorded with increase in moisture levels and advancement of stacking period. A small increase in crude protein (CP) content was associated with considerable declines in organic matter (OM), cellulose, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and hemicellulose in deep-stacked litters. The apparent digestibility of nutrients and N-retention in the litter-supplemented diets were similar to those of the soybean meal supplemented diet. It is concluded that by deep stacking at 30 or 40% moisture, or ensiling, the litter was rendered free of pathogens and could be incorporated in the diet of livestock without adversely affecting digestibility of fiber and efficiency of N utilization.