animal and poultry
waste management research:
a progress report

Deep-Stacked Broiler Litter as a
Protein Supplement for Dairy Replacement Heifers
The Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center

Researchers evaluated deep-stacked broiler litter as a substitute for soybean meal as a source of supplemental crude protein in the feed of dairy heifers. They also assessed the effect of an additional source of rumen undegradable protein when heifers are fed broiler litter. Litter is the material that covers the floors of poultry houses. It consists of poultry manure, wood shavings and feathers, and is a waste product of the poultry industry. Deep stacking is a composting method used to kill any pathogens in litter. Holstein dairy heifers at N.C. State's Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory were fed rations that included different amounts of deep-stacked broiler litter and soybean meal, and their growth on the different rations was recorded. Dairy farmers commonly include soybean meal as a source of crude protein in the mix of ingredients that make up the feed they give their animals. Heifers were willing to eat all the different treatments. The average daily weight gain of the animals in the study decreased as the percentage of litter in rations increased; however, even on rations where litter made up 100 percent of the supplemental protein in the ration, the average daily weight gain of heifers was good. An average daily gain of 1.8 pounds is considered an industry goal. Heifers in this study fed rations in which litter made up 100 percent of supplemental protein gained over 2 pounds per day. Broiler litter cost less that soybean meal. Based on this study, broiler litter shows promise as an effective and economical source of supplemental crude protein in dairy heifer diets. Broiler litter is not approved as a feed ingredient for lactating animals.

Funding: $10,256
Source: North Carolina Agricultural Research Service
Status: Completed

Investigators: Dr. Matthew H. Poore, associate professor, Animal Science, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 515-7798, fax: (919) 515-9061, email: MATT_POORE@NCSU.EDU; Dr. Brinton A. Hopkins, assistant professor, Animal Science, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 515-7592, fax: (919) 515-2152, email: BHOPKINS@WOLF.CES.NCSU.EDU