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Ensiled Broiler Litter and Corn Forage. II. Digestibility, Nitrogen Utilization and Palatability by Sheep^{1, 2,}

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University⁴, Blacksburg 24061

Abstract

Studies were conducted to investigate the nutritive value and palatability of ensiled broiler litter and corn forage for ruminants. Corn forage, cut at two stages of maturity, was ensiled untreated, with .5% urea (wet basis), and with levels of litter to supply 15 and 30% of the total dry matter. All mixtures appeared to ensile properly. The silages were fed to sheep in two metabolism and two palatability trials to study digestibility, nitrogen utilization and voluntary dry matter intake.

The dry matter, crude protein and ash were higher for the ensiled mixtures containing broiler litter for both maturities. Dry matter digestibility averaged 64.5% and was similar for all silages. Apparent digestibility of crude protein was depressed by the later stage of maturity of the corn plant (57.1 vs 48.0% for control silages) and was increased by each level of litter addition. Nitrogen retention data indicated that litter nitrogen was well utilized; however, increasing the level of litter from 15 to 30% of the silage dry matter tended to depress efficiency of dietary nitrogen utilization. Voluntary dry matter intake was higher for silages containing broiler litter than for control and urea silages. Average daily dry matter consumption was 848 g for the control silages, 925 g for the urea treated silages, and 1,445 and 1,464 g for the silages containing 15 and 30% broiler litter, dry basis, respectively.

¹ Supported in part by Public Health Service Grant No. EC-00034.

² Broiler Utter was supplied by Rockingham Poultry Marketing Cooperative, Broadway, Virginia.

³ Present address: Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland—Eastern Shore, Princess Anne 21853.

⁴ Department of Animal Science.