Energy and nutrient utilization of raw and processed poultry droppings in broilers

Sun dried poultry droppings of caged layer house were subjected to autoclaving or fermentation with either of the Aspergillus sp-1 (AP-1), Trichoderma reesei (TR) 9123 and 9144 strains of fungi to study the digestibility of nutrients and energy utilization in broilers. One hundred and twenty broilers of four weeks age were divided into twelve groups of ten birds. A basal diet and five test diets (30 kg of either type of poultry droppings and 70 kg basal diet) were formulated and offered to broiler chicks in duplicate for 10 days. During the last three consecutive days the daily feed intake and droppings voided by each group were recorded. Both autoclaving and fermentation significantly (P<0.05) increased the nutrient digestion of poultry droppings. Percent nitrogen retention of raw poultry droppings was significantly (P<0.05) less than the autoclaved and fermented droppings. Fermentation with AP-1 significantly (P<0.05) increased the ME of the poultry droppings. However, on organic matter basis the ME of raw poultry droppings was significantly (P<0.05) less than autoclaved and fermented poultry droppings. Processing of poultry droppings significantly (P<0.05) improved the percent metabolizability of gross energy.