Nutritive value of poultry wastes for sheep

Abstract

The present study included four successive experiments to determine the chemical composition of the manures and the effects of including varying levels of poultry manure in sheep rations on nutrients digestibility, nitrogen balance and the possible adaptation to the experimental diets as the experimental period was prolonged. Four different poultry wastes were used. These wastes were: pure layer droppings, HELWAN (Experiment I); pure layer droppings, SAKHA (Experiment II); layer litter (Experiment III); and broiler litter (Experiment IV). Three levels of each waste (0, low and high) were tested in the rations of six mature Ossimi fat-tailed rams (two animals for each treatment). Results showed a wide variation in ash and crude protein contents of the different wastes. Layer droppings (HELWAN) contained the highest ash percentage (43·9), while broiler litter contained the lowest (18·8). For crude protein content, broiler litter had the highest value (34·0%) and layer droppings (SAKHA) the lowest (15·4%). Feed intake (g OM per kg 0.75 day −1) decreased with increasing level of manure. Water intake and excretion were, in general, related to food and minerals intake. Feed intakes sometimes improved with advancing experimental period. In most experiments, digestibilities of ash and crude fiber increased while those of other components decreased with the inclusion of the waste materials in the diets. In vitro DMD or OMD were lower for diets containing waste materials than the control diets. Results of some rumen liquor parameters are tabulated and discussed.