A note on the apparent digestibility of energy and protein in dried poultry excreta

Abstract

SUMMARYThe nutritional value of dried poultry excreta was investigated by determining the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen, energy and copper in five diets containing 0 to 100% of this feed. Dried poultry excreta supplied 20·21% apparently digestible crude protein and approximately 1·57 or 1·74 Mcal of metabolizable energy per kg dry matter.The copper in dried poultry excreta was found to be less digestible than the copper in barley. It is concluded that, as far as copper levels are concerned, dried poultry excreta are safe for ruminants, and are a source ofcheap protein. More detailed work is needed to determine the metabolizable energy of the material accurately.