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Effect of Processing Method on Pasturization and Nitrogen Components of Broiler Litter and on Nitrogen Utilization by Sheep^{1, 2,}

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061³

Abstract

Various methods of processing broiler litter were evaluated. Treatments found to be effective for pasteurization were dry heating at 150 C for 20 min; autoclaving for 10 min or longer; dry heating at 150 C at depths of .6 or 2.5 cm following addition of 1 to 4 g of paraformaldehyde (PFA) per 100 g of litter; and ethylene oxide (ETO) fumigation for a minimum of 30 minutes. Uric acid nitrogen was lowered (P < .01) by dry heat, alone or in combination with PFA. Autoclaving and PFA addition followed by dry heat lowered (P < .01) NPN. Ammonia nitrogen was reduced (P < .01) by most of the pasteurizing treatments except autoclaving for 10 minutes.

A metabolism trial was conducted with 18 wethers to study the relative effects of different litter processing methods on nitrogen utilization. Litter pasteurized by dry heating at a depth of .6 cm for 20 min, dry heating at a depth of 2.5 cm for 15 min after the addition of 2 g of PFA per 100 g of litter or fumigation with ETO at a depth of 15.2 cm for 60 min supplied 50% of the nitrogen in the respective rations. Method of processing had no significant effect on nitrogen utilization or apparent digestion coefficients. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen was higher (P < .05) for sheep fed dry heat than for those fed ethylene oxide treated litter. Acetic acid and total volatile fatty acid concentrations, expressed as µ moles/ml, were significantly (P < .05) higher for the sheep fed litter treated with dry heat plus PFA than for those fed Utter treated with dry heat without PFA.

¹ The broiler litter was obtained from Rockingham Poultry Marketing Cooperative, Broadway, Virginia 22815.

² Supported in part by Public Health Service Grant No. EC-00034.

³ Department of Animal Science.