Growth performance of broilers fed on diets containing processed poultry wastes

Abstract

1. Broilers were grown on diets containing processed poultry wastes: dehydrated broiler litter, with (DBLA) or without (DBLN) arsenical residues, “in‐house” dried waste (IHDW) and dehydrated layer waste (DLW), all from commercial poultry houses.

2. Wastes were included at 100 g/kg in starter and finisher diets given, in most cases, from 0 to 8 weeks. In formulation the contents of true protein and of experimentally‐determined metabolisable energy values were used to ensure nutritional balance.

3. Body weight at 8 weeks with inclusion of wastes was equivalent to control (DLW) or increased (DBLA, DBLN). The gain: food ratio was reduced by the two layer wastes because of increased food consumption. Litter moisture was increased by the feeding of wastes.

Notes

Present address: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada S7N 0W0.