Recycled Poultry Bedding Research Articles

Effects of processed recycled poultry bedding with tannins extracted from pomegranate peel on the nutrient digestibility and growth performance of lambs

The aim of this experiment was to decrease the rumen degradability rate of recycled poultry bedding (RPB) protein using pomegranate peel extract (PPE) as the tannin source. Furthermore, to study the effects of this processing method on nutrient digestibility, rumen and blood parameters, nitrogen retention, growth performance, carcass characteristics of male Arabi lambs, and the economic value of diets and production. Thirty-two Arabi lambs (19.7 ± 2.45 kg bodyweight, 90 ± 12 days old) were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments including a control and RPB treated with 20%, 25% and 30% PPE on a dry matter basis. Compared with the control, treatment of RPB with PPE did not affect apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre or acid detergent fibre. However, apparent crude protein digestibility decreased significantly. Dietary treatments had no effect on ruminal pH, although ammonia-nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen concentration decreased in diets containing RPB treated with PPE. All lambs were in a positive nitrogen balance and the highest nitrogen retention was observed in the dietary group that was fed RPB treated with 25% PPE. Adding PPE to RPB up to 25% significantly increased final bodyweight, total gain, average daily gain and warm carcass weight, and improved the economic values of production as it decreased the price of each kilogram diet and cost per unit of production (each kilogram bodyweight). The dry matter intake and gain efficiency were unaffected by treatments. Therefore, treatment of RPB with 25% PPE in the finishing diets of Arabi lambs improved growth performance and nitrogen metabolism without affecting feed intake and gain efficiency, and warm carcass weight, and improved the economic values of production.Keywords: ammonia nitrogen, blood urea nitrogen, carcass characteristics, economic analysis, nitrogen balance

Effect of treating recycled poultry bedding with tannin extracted from pomegranate peel on rumen fermentation parameters and cellulolytic bacterial population in Arabian fattening lambs.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of recycled poultry bedding (RPB) treated with different levels of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) as a tannin source on cellulolytic bacterial population and rumen fermentation parameters of fattening lambs. For this purpose, twenty-eight Arabian lambs (19.70 ± 2.45 kg body weight, 90 ± 12 days of age) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments. Recycled poultry bedding was treated with PPE at four levels of 0 (control), 20.00, 25.00 and 30.00% on DM basis. Bacterial populations were enumerated by DNA extraction of samples of rumen liquor followed by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Also, rumen samples were evaluated for pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia nitrogen (AN) concentrations. The populations of total bacteria, Ruminococcus albus and Fibrobacter succinogenes were decreased significantly as the level of PPE in the diet increased, however, the population of Ruminococcus flavefaciens was not affected. Dietary treatments did not have effect on ruminal pH, while AN concentration was decreased in the diets containing RPB treated with PPE compared to the control. Concentrations of total VFA and individual VFA remained unchanged by PPE-treated RPB inclusion in the diet. In conclusion, supplementing RPB with PPE improved nitrogen metabolism of fattening lambs, however, it decreased population of rumen cellulolytic bacteria R. flavefaciens.

Effect of Processing Recycled Poultry Bedding with Tannin Extract of Pomegranate Peel on Its Intestinal- Ruminal Digestibility

Effect of Processing Recycled Poultry Bedding with Tannin Extract of Pomegranate Peel on Its Intestinal- Ruminal Digestibility

Effects of feeding different levels of dried orange pulp and recycled poultry bedding on the performance of fattening lambs.

The effects of dietary feeding different levels of recycled poultry bedding (RPB) and dried orange pulp (DOP) on the performance of fattening Shal lambs (initial BW of 28 ± 2.2 kg) were assessed using a factorial experiment (2 × 3) with a completely randomized design. Six diets, containing different levels of RPB (0 or 160 g/kg of DM) and DOP (0, 110, or 220 g/kg of DM), were randomly assigned to 6 groups of 6 lambs each for a 74-d period (14 d for adaptation and 60 d for data collection). Diets were offered as total mixed ration to ensure 10% of orts. Feed intake, growth, diet digestibility, microbial nitrogen (N) synthesis (MNS), N retention, rumen fermentation parameters, and blood metabolites were determined. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED of SAS. Increasing RPB and DOP levels in the diet of the lambs improved ( < 0.05) DMI, ADG, and G:F. Diet digestibility was not affected by dietary feeding of RPB ( > 0.05), but increased as DOP level increased in the diet ( < 0.05). Feeding RPB and DOP had no effects ( > 0.05) on the ruminal pH. The ruminal total VFA concentration, molar proportion of acetic acid, and acetate-to-propionate ratio increased ( < 0.05) with the increasing dietary levels of RPB and DOP, while ammonia N concentration, propionic acid proportion, total protozoa count, and subfamily number decreased ( < 0.05). Including RPB and DOP in diet enhanced ( < 0.05) MNS and N retention. Feeding RPB-containing diets caused ( < 0.05) an increase of plasma glucose concentration and decreases ( < 0.05) of cholesterol and urea N. As the dietary level of DOP increased, the plasma concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, and urea N reduced ( < 0.05). The plasma antioxidant power was not affected ( > 0.05) by feeding RPB, but increased ( < 0.05) with increasing DOP level in diet. The animal performance reached its greatest value with simultaneous feeding of 160 g of RPB and 220 g of DOP per kg of diet DM. It has been concluded that the partial dietary substitution of RPB (instead of soybean meal, wheat bran, and sugar beet pulp) or/and DOP (instead of barley grain and corn grain) in fattening Shal lambs had positive effects on feed intake, diet digestibility, ruminal microbial N, growth, and N retention. Synchronized feeding of the great levels of RPB (as an N source) and DOP (as an energy source) increased utilization efficiency of these byproducts in the fattening lambs.

Performance and ruminal parameters of fattening Moghani lambs fed recycled poultry bedding.

This study investigated the effects of recycled poultry bedding (RPB) on performance and protozoa population, microbial enzyme activity and microbial protein synthesis (MPS) in rumen contents of fattening lambs. Thirty-six male Moghani lambs (31.4 ± 3.2 kg body weight) were fed iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets containing 0, 70, 140 or 210 g/kg dry matter (DM) RPB in a balanced randomized design (9 lambs per treatment). Results showed that final body weight, DM intake, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were unchanged (P > 0.05) by RPB inclusion. Total protozoa population and sub-family of Entoniniinae and Diplodiniiae were linearly decreased by RPB (L, P < 0.05). For rumen fibrolytic enzymes including carboxymethyl-cellulase, microcrystalline-cellulase and filter paper degrading activity, the extra cellular, cellular and total (extra cellular plus cellular fraction) activity were similar (P > 0.05) by feeding the experimental diets. Inclusion of RPB in the diet linearly decreased extra cellular and total α-amylase activity (L, P < 0.05), while cellular activity was unchanged (P > 0.05). The extra cellular activity of proteases tended to increase (L, P = 0.07) and their total and cellular activity increased (P > 0.05) in lambs fed RPB. Incorporation of RPB into the diet had no effect (L, P > 0.05) on urinary purine derivative excretion and MPS. In conclusion, inclusion of RPB up to 210 g/kg DM had no negative impact on performance, ruminal fibrolytic enzyme activity and MPS, while it increased rumen protease activity and decreased protozoa population in fattening Moghani lambs.

Effects of feeding different levels of dried orange pulp and recycled poultry bedding on the performance of fattening lambs

Effects of feeding different levels of dried orange pulp and recycled poultry bedding on the performance of fattening lambs

Effects of different carbohydrate sources on activity of rumen microbial enzymes and nitrogen retention in sheep fed diet containing recycled poultry bedding

ABSTRACTIn a completely randomized design, 15 male Moghani sheep were fed to determine the influence of supplementing recycled poultry bedding (RPB) with different carbohydrate sources on the activities of rumen hydrolytic enzymes and nitrogen retention. In the first diet, corn and barley were used as the carbohydrate sources (M0). In the second and third diets, corn and barley were replaced by 50 (M50 diet) and 100 (M100 diet) g/kg of sugar beet molasses, respectively. The extracellular activity of carboxymethyl-cellulase (CMCase) was increased linearly by dietary inclusion of molasses [linear (L), P < .05]. The extracellular and total activity of microcrystalline-cellulase in ruminal content was increased linearly (L, P < .05), while its cellular activity remained unaffected (P > .05) by dietary inclusion of molasses. Dietary inclusion of molasses in RPB-containing diets linearly increased filter paper degrading (FPD) activity in all fractions of ruminal content (L, P < .05). Addition of molasses to the diets linearly decreased (L, P = .04) total activity of α-amylase, and cellular and total activity of proteases. Increasing dietary levels of molasses linearly increased retained N (L, P < .05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of RPB-containing diet with molasses improved activities of fibrolytic enzymes and nitrogen retention in sheep.

Effect of feeding a by-product feed-based silage on nutrients intake, apparent digestibility, and nitrogen balance in sheep.

BackgroundLiterature is lacking on the effects of feeding by-product feed (BF)-based silage on rumen fermentation parameters, nutrient digestion and nitrogen (N) retention in sheep. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of replacing rye straw with BF-based silage as a roughage source on ruminal parameters, total-tract apparent nutrient digestibility, and N balance in sheep.MethodsThe by-product feed silage was composed of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) (45 %), recycled poultry bedding (RPB) (21 %), rye straw (11 %), rice bran (10.8 %), corn taffy residue (10 %), protected fat (1.0 %), bentonite (0.6 %), and mixed microbial additive (0.6 %). Six sheep were assigned randomly to either the control (concentrate mix + rye straw) or a treatment diet (concentrate mix + BF-based silage).ResultsCompared with the control diet, feeding a BF-based silage diet resulted in similar ruminal characteristics (pH, acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations, and acetate: propionate ratio), higher (p < 0.05) ruminal NH3-N, higher (p < 0.05) ether extract digestibility, similar crude protein digestibility, lower (p < 0.05) dry matter, fiber, and crude ash digestibilities, and higher (p < 0.05) N retention (g/d)ConclusionThe BF-based silage showed similar energy value, higher protein metabolism and utilization, and lower fiber digestion in sheep compared to the control diet containing rye straw.

The effect of the inclusion of recycled poultry bedding and the physical form of diet on the performance, ruminal fermentation, and plasma metabolites of fattening lambs.

During a 125-d experimental period, 24 Afshari × Kurdish male lambs initially weighing 25.2 ± 1.2 kg were grouped by BW and randomly assigned to treatments under a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effects of feeding recycled poultry bedding (RPB; 0 and 200 g/kg DM) and the physical form of the diet (mash and block) on nutrient intake and digestibility, ruminal and plasma parameters, microbial N supply, N balance, feeding behavior, and growth performance of the lambs. Two diets with and without RPB in both mash and block form were prepared. Neither the inclusion of RPB nor the physical form of the diet affected the concentration of VFA or the total tract apparent digestibility of nutrients. Dietary RPB inclusion increased DMI ( < 0.01), tended ( = 0.10) to reduce ADG, and decreased G:F ( = 0.05). The physical form of the diet had no effect on DMI but decreased ADG ( = 0.01) and G:F ( = 0.02) in lambs fed on the block diet compared with those fed on the mash diet. Neither the inclusion of RPB nor the physical form of the diets had any effect on microbial N supply (g/d) and N retention. Rate of eating ( = 0.07), time spent eating ( = 0.87) and ruminating ( = 0.28), and total chewing activity ( = 0.65) were not affected by dietary RPB inclusion. Rate of eating decreased ( < 0.01) and time spent eating and total chewing activity increased ( = 0.01 and = 0.02, respectively) in lambs fed on the block diet compared with those fed on the mash diet. Results of the current study showed that inclusion of RPB up to 200 g/kg DM in diets for fattening was possible without any effect on performance and animal health. Processing of feed into the mash form gave higher livestock productivity in comparison to the block form.

Effect of By-product Feed-based Silage Feeding on the Performance, Blood Metabolites, and Carcass Characteristics of Hanwoo Steers (a Field Study).

This study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding by-product feed (BF)-based silage on the performance, blood metabolite parameters, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers. The BF-based silage was composed of 50% spent mushroom substrate, 21% recycled poultry bedding, 15% cut ryegrass straw, 10.8% rice bran, 2% molasses, 0.6% bentonite, and 0.6% microbial additive (on a wet basis), and ensiled for over 5 d. Fifteen steers were allocated to three diets during the growing and fattening periods (3.1 and 9.8 months, respectively): a control diet (concentrate mix and free access to rice straw), a 50% BF-based silage diet (control diet+50% of maximum BF-based silage intake), and a 100% BF-based silage diet (the same amount of concentrate mix and ad libitum BF-based silage). The BF-based silage was fed during the growing and fattening periods, and was replaced with larger particles of rice straw during the finishing period. After 19.6 months of the whole period all the steers were slaughtered. Compared with feeding rice straw, feeding BF-based silage tended (p = 0.10) to increase the average daily gain (27%) and feed efficiency (18%) of the growing steers, caused by increased voluntary feed intake. Feeding BF-based silage had little effect on serum constituents, electrolytes, enzymes, or the blood cell profiles of fattening steers, except for low serum Ca and high blood urea concentrations (p<0.05). Feeding BF-based silage did not affect cold carcass weight, yield traits such as back fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, yield index or yield grade, or quality traits such as meat color, fat color, texture, maturity, marbling score, or quality grade. However, it improved good quality grade (1+ and 1++) appearance rates (60% for the control group vs 100% for the BF-based silage-fed groups). In conclusion, cheap BF-based silage could be successfully used as a good quality roughage source for beef cattle.

Ensiling Characteristics and the In situ Nutrient Degradability of a By-product Feed-based Silage.

This study was conducted to evaluate the ensiling characteristics and the in situ degradability of a by-product feed (BF)-based silage. Before ensilation, the BF-based mixture was composed of 50% spent mushroom substrate, 21% recycled poultry bedding, 15% ryegrass straw, 10.8% rice bran, 2% molasses, 0.6% bentonite, and 0.6% microbial inoculant on a wet basis and ensiled for up to 4 weeks. The BF-based silage contained on average 39.3% moisture, 13.4% crude protein (CP), and 52.2% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 49% total digestible nutrient, and 37.8% physically effective NDF1.18 on a dry matter (DM) basis. Ensiling the BF-based silage for up to 4 weeks affected (p<0.01) the chemical composition to a small extent, increased (p<0.05) the lactic acid and NH3-N content, and decreased (p<0.05) both the total bacterial and lactic acid bacterial counts from 109 to 108 cfu/g when compared to that before ensiling. These parameters indicated that the silage was fermented and stored well during the 4-week ensiling period. Compared with rice or ryegrass straws, the BF-based silage had a higher (p<0.05) water-soluble and filterable fraction, a lower insoluble degradable DM and CP fraction (p<0.05), a lower digestible NDF (p<0.05) fraction, a higher (p<0.05) DM and CP disappearance and degradability rate, and a lower (p<0.05) NDF disappearance and degradability rate. These results indicated that cheap, good-quality BF-based roughage could be produced by ensiling SMS, RPB, rice bran, and a minimal amount of straw.

Effect of stacking method on Salmonella elimination from recycled poultry bedding

Recycled poultry bedding (RPB) is a protein and mineral supplement for cattle. Concerns regarding this product have arisen because of the perceived risk of transmitting potentially pathogenic organisms to cattle. This study’s primary objective was to assess survival of Salmonella in RPB stacked to a recommended height (2.13 m—DS-RPB), or a height of 0.76 m (SS-RPB). Dialysis bags containing RPB and Salmonella typhimurium were placed throughout stacks. Temperature was monitored daily using thermocouples attached to sample bags. After 21 days, sample bags were recovered. Ammonia analysis was performed from multiple sites in the stacks. Bag contents were cultured to determine viability of the salmonella inoculates. This trial demonstrated a wide variation of temperature within the stacks. Temperature near the edge of stacks changed with ambient temperature. Ammonia concentration in the RPB was highest at the top of the DS-RPB. Salmonella was eliminated in 98.7% of sites, with at least a 5-log reduction in the Salmonella organisms in sites where it was still viable.

Growing and finishing performance of steers when fed recycled poultry bedding during the growing period.

Sixty Angus-cross steers were used to compare the effects of recycled poultry bedding (RPB) stacking method and the inclusion of monensin in growing diets on performance. Steers were individually fed balanced, growing diets for a period of 84 d. The diets were control (CON), CON + monensin (CON+M), deep-stacked RPB (DS), DS+M, shallow-stacked RPB (SS), and SS+M. The CON diets contained corn, soybean meal, corn silage, and cottonseed hulls. In the RPB diets, 35% of the silage, cottonseed hulls, and soybean meal was replaced with RPB (as-fed basis). At the end of the growing period, 30 steers, representing all treatment groups, had liver biopsies for trace mineral analysis and ruminal fluid samples to assess pH, VFA, and ammonia concentrations. All steers had blood samples drawn at the end of the growing period for analysis of Se and urea N. Steers were transported 466.6 km to simulate shipping stress and started on a finishing diet for a 120-d period. Intake, ADG, and G:F were monitored throughout the trial. Steers fed CON diets had higher ADG, DMI, and G:F than SS, and higher ADG and G:F than DS (P < 0.05) during the growing period. Steers fed DS diets had higher DMI than SS (P < 0.05) during the growing period. Inclusion of monensin in the growing diets increased G:F and decreased DMI (P < 0.05). Steers from the RPB treatments started the finishing period at lighter BW than steers fed CON diets (P < 0.05). During the finishing period, steers fed SS diets had higher DMI than steers fed CON diets (P < 0.06), whereas steers fed DS diets were intermediate. At slaughter, steers fed CON diets had higher hot carcass weights and quality grades than steers fed SS diets (P < 0.07), whereas steers fed DS diets were intermediate. Results indicate that steers fed RPB consumed it better when processed by deep stacking before consumption, that carryover effects of RPB into the finishing phase were minimal, and inclusion of monensin did not affect consumption of RPB diets.

Recycled poultry bedding as cattle feed.

Since the 1950s, recycled poultry bedding has been used as an economical feedstuff for beef cattle. It has been extensively studied at several experiment stations around the world with regard to its safety and nutritional aspects. It will continue to be closely scrutinized as the public increases its awareness of agricultural issues. As this study was being prepared, the news media was "spotlighting" bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Currently, in the United States there is a ban on incorporation of mammalian-derived protein feeds into ruminant diets. This has led to a requirement of beef cattle producers signing affidavits indicating that they had met this obligation. Some poultry companies use ruminant meat and bone meal in broiler diets when least-cost formulation indicates that it is economically desirable. This then poses the question of whether feeding RPB to beef cattle should be permitted if the birds had been fed ruminant meat and bone meal. It also raises the question of whether cattle grazing pastures fertilized with RPB are exposed to ruminant meat and bone meal. Because of the importance of pasture fertilization as a waste disposal solution for the poultry industry, it seems that the issue will be quickly resolved by omitting the ruminant meat and bone meal from poultry diets should concerns increase. Use of RPB, like many byproduct feeds, requires a higher level of management expertise than traditional feeds. Despite the potential problems discussed in this study, an informed beef cattle producer can gain a financially competitive edge by using RPB. A simple processing method, deep-stacking under polyethylene sheeting, can produce a safe product that will provide a complete diet when blended with an energy source and supplemented with some long-stem fiber. The diets can be used for both brood cows and stocker calves for extended periods of time, and the practice of feeding RPB is safe for both cattle and consumers [45]. Economic parameters will influence the future use of RPB; however, the general public's perception and acceptance will ultimately determine its long-term use.

Evaluation of Salmonella shedding in cattle fed recycled poultry bedding

Recycled poultry bedding (RPB), contaminated with Salmonella, was fed to beef calves to determine if it would increase the prevalence of detectable Salmonella faecal shedding. 60 Angus crossbred steer calves were placed on balanced rations containing Salmonella-contaminated recycled poultry bedding that had been properly or improperly stacked, or fed a control diet for an 84-d growing phase. After the growing phase, the calves were transported (for 12 h) to simulate shipping stress and then fed a single finishing diet. Faecal samples were collected from each calf and cultured for Salmonella prior to the start of the trial, every 14 days during the growing phase, 24 hours after transport and every 28 days during the finishing phase. At the end of the finishing phase, scrapings from the ileocaecal mucosa were collected at the abattoir and cultured. Dietary components and total mixed rations were sampled and cultured weekly for Salmonella. Other than the poultry bedding at delivery, none of the dietary components or calves were culture-positive for Salmonella at any time during the feeding periods or after transport. One calf that had been on a RPB diet during the growing phase was positive for Salmonella norwich at postmortem collection; however, it was not established that this was the same serotype of Salmonella cultured from the RPB. We conclude that feeding a known Salmonella-contaminated feed source as a part of a balanced ration did not increase the prevalence of detectable Salmonella shedding in calves over the published prevalence.

Salmonella Elimination from Recycled Poultry Bedding after Stacking

Recycled poultry bedding (RPB), also referred to as poultry litter, has long been used as a protein and mineral supplement for cattle. This product consists of the bedding material used in the poultry house, as well as feed, feathers and excreta. Concerns regarding the feeding of this product have been raised because of the perceived risks of transmitting potentially pathogenic enteric organisms to cattle and consumers. The primary objective of this study was to assess the survival of Salmonella in various areas of RPB stacked to a recommended height of 6-8 ft (deep) or stacked to height of 3 ft (shallow).