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Animal Performance and Microbial Adaptation of Ruminants Fed Formaldehyde Treated Poultry Waste

University of Illinois, Urbana 61801²

Abstract

Forty-four ewe lambs and 48 crossbred steers were used to determine the feasibility of recycling formaldehyde treated poultry waste (PW) in ruminant diets. Caged layer waste was treated with a 37% formaldehyde solution and then used at either 0 or 10% of the diet on a dry matter basis. Lamb weight gains and feed/gain ratios were not different (P>.05) between treatments. Weight gains were less (P<.05) for the steers receiving PW but due to the decreased feed intake, the feed/gain ratios were not different (P>.05) between treatments.

The final study was designed to determine the period of time required for rumen microorganisms to adapt to the high level of uric acid supplied by the PW. Rumen fluid taken daily from wethers adapting to the PW diet was incubated in flasks containing graded levels of supplemental uric acid. It appeared from the in vitro cellulose and uric acid disappearance data that the rumen microbes were capable of utilizing the uric acid nitrogen in PW after a 2-to 3-day adaptation period and that adapted microbes were capable of degrading uric acid within a 6-hr incubation period.

¹ Present address: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506.

² Department of Animal Sciences.