Utilization of cage layer droppings and poultry litter as feed supplements for lambs and kids

Abstract

Three low cost feed supplements were formulated utilizing (1) 30% cage layer droppings (CLD), (2) 22.5% cage layer droppings and 7.5% poultry litter (PL), and (3) 15.0% CLD and 15% PL processed into pellets along with other feed ingredients. They were evaluated in a growth and metabolism trial in growing male Nellore lambs and local kids. Chopped sorghum straw formed the basal roughage. Growth rate was not affected by the type of concentrate supplement. Lambs had higher ( P < 0.01) growth rate than kids. Feed efficiency and cost of feed per unit gain in body weight (BW) was comparable on all rations. Digestibility coefficients of proximate nutrients and fibre fractions were not significantly affected by replacing CLD with 25% or 50% PL. All experimental animals were in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances and met DP requirements but not TDN requirements. Results of this study indicate that inclusion of cage layer droppings up to 30% in feed mixtures of lambs and kids had no adverse effect on growth, feed efficiency and nutrient utilization, and cage layer droppings can be replaced by poultry litter up to 50% level.