Effects of starling excrement in the food of cattle and pigs

Abstract

ABSTRACTLivestock food was contaminated with starling excrement by placing caged starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) over livestock food troughs and feeders, and allowing starling excreta to fall on food for periods ranging from 30 to 56 consecutive days. Several levels of contamination were tested by varying the number of caged starlings over troughs, from 1 to 18 birds per m2 of trough area. During the winters of 1979 and 1980, four trials were conducted involving 78 pigs of both sexes, 24 steers and 18 male calves. No significant differences were observed in daily rate of weight gain or efficiency of food conversion (food offered per unit gain), suggesting that neither cattle nor pigs appeared to be adversely affected by exposure to starling excreta in their food. Food rejection observed during these trials appeared to be a negligible problem overall. Although limited disease incidence did occur, it did not appear to be associated with food contamination.