animal and poultry
waste management research:
a progress report

Separation of Turkey Litter To Enhance
Its Value as a Cattle Feed Ingredient
The Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center

This project was designed to determine whether litter from turkey houses could be enhanced as a source of crude protein for cattle feed by separating the litter based on particle size. Litter is the material that covers the floors of turkey and broiler houses. It is made up of wood shavings, manure and feathers. Because the crude protein content of manure, shavings and feathers differs, it was thought that if litter were separated into fractions, some fractions might have a higher crude protein content. These fractions would be better suited for use as an ingredient in cattle feed. Researchers used a fan and a soil screen to separate litter according to particle size. Separating litter based on particle size did not result in any significant difference in crude protein level. Based on this study, it does not appear that the expense and effort required to build a commercial turkey litter separator would be justified. The researchers plan, however, to continue the study with a feeding trail. Turkey litter is to be separated by particle size, and the different fractions used as a source of crude protein in cattle feed. From the feeding trial, researchers hope to learn whether separation of litter based on particle size has any affect on the performance of cattle.

Funding: $20,000
Source: North Carolina Agricultural Research Service
Status: Ongoing

Principal Investigators: Dr. Jesse L. Grimes, assistant professor/extension turkey specialist, Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 515-5406, fax: (919) 515-7070, email: JGRIMES@POULTRY.POULSCI.NCSU.EDU; Dr. Raymond W. Harvey, professor, Animal Science, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 515-4006, fax: (919) 515-7780, email: RAY_HARVEY@NCSU.EDU

Collaborators: Dr. Matthew H. Poore, associate professor, Animal Science, North Carolina State University; Dr. Brinton A. Hopkins, assistant professor, Animal Science, North Carolina State University; James Parsons, area specialized agent (poultry), Duplin County, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service; John M. Rice, water quality technician, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service; Richard Melton, agricultural agent, Sampson County, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service