Utilization of poultry litter pellets in meat goat diets

Forty-eight crossbred meat goats were used to determine if poultry litter pellets could be used as a protein source in the diets of growing meat goats. Goats were fed one of three 19–21% CP diets containing 0 (CON; n = 18), 20% (20PL; n = 12) or 40% poultry litter pellets (40PL; n = 18). In Experiment 1, 38 animals (n = 13 CON; n = 12 20PL; n = 13 40PL) were used. Goats were allowed a 23-day adjustment period and body weight (BW) and feed intake were measured every 7 days for 42 days. In Experiment 2, 10 males fed CON or 40PL (n = 5 per diet) were used in two metabolism trials at 93.7±0.9 (Trial 1) and 121.7±0.9 d of age (Trial 2). Goats were placed in metabolism crates and after a 3-day adjustment period, feed intake and fecal and urine output were measured and sampled daily for 7 days to determine diet digestibility. In Experiment 1, ADG (79±8 g) and feed efficiency (130±12 g per kg) were not influenced by diet. In Experiment 2, for both trials, organic matter and CP digestibility were similar between diets (80±1 and 70±3% for Trial 1, respectively and 63±2 and 75±7% for Trial 2, respectively). Dry matter digestibilitywas greater (P < 0.05) for CON (81±1 and 82±1% for Trials 1 and 2, respectively) when compared to 40PL (77±1 and 75±1% for Trials 1 and 2, respectively). The ADF (41±4% for CON and 67±4% for 40PL) and NDF (48±4% for CON and 71±4% for 40PL) were greater (P < 0.01) for 40PL compared to CON diet in Trial 1 only. Digestibility (GE) was higher (P < 0.05) for 40PL (83±0.3%) compared to CON (82±0.3%) in Trial 2 only. The poultry litter pellets may be used effectively as a short-term feedstuff for meat goats. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.