Source: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY submitted to NRP
WATER QUALITY ISSUES IN POULTRY PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0199200
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
W-195
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2003
Project End Date
Oct 1, 2005
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
500 S LIMESTONE 109 KINKEAD HALL
LEXINGTON,KY 40526-0001
Performing Department
ANIMAL & FOOD SCIENCE
Non Technical Summary
The use of poultry manure (or litter)from chickens fed conventional diets as fertilizer on cropland and pastures can contribute to the problem of nitrogen, phosphorus and trace minerals in water. This project examines the use of alternative nutritional practices that may lower nutrient levels in manure which could result in decreased runoff of nitrogen, phosphorus and trace minerals from cropland and pastures.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
70%
Developmental
30%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3023210101070%
3023220101030%
Knowledge Area
302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3210 - Egg-type chicken, live animal; 3220 - Meat-type chicken, live animal;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;
Goals / Objectives
The general objective of this project is to develop feeding programs for poultry that can be used to minimize water quality problems resulting from the use of poultry manure (and litter) on crop land and pastures. Specific objects are: 1)evaluate the use of low-protein, amino acid fortified diets on nitrogen excretion, growth performance and processing yields of broilers; 2) evaluate the use of supplemental phytase in diets limiting in phosphorus on phosphorus excretion, production performance, and bone quality of laying hens; and 3) evaluate the substitution of lowered levels of supplemental trace minerals in poultry diets in organic forms in comparision with the normally used higher levels of these minerals as inorganic salts on mineral excretion, growth performance, and subsequent layer performance of pullets.
Project Methods
Objective 1: Broiler chickens will be fed/provided diets with a normal level or low levels of protein (i.e., less than the requirement). Low protein diets will be fortified with sufficient essential amino acids to meet the birds' requirements. Body weight and feed intake will be measured on regular intervals. Samples of manure (or litter) will be taken to measure manure nitrogen levels. At typical market weight, birds will be processed to determine processing yields. Objective 2: Experiments will be conducted with both white and brown shell laying hens to examine the use of supplemental phytase alone or in combination with the vitamin D metabolite, 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol, on layer performance during a complete (48-week) laying cycle. Hens will be fed a basal diet severely deficient in phosphorus (1.2 mg available phosphorus/kg) alone, with 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol, with phytase, or with both supplements. In addition, a diet with a normal level of phosphorus (3 mg available phosphorus/kg) alone or with 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol will be fed. Egg production, egg shell quality (measured by Instron breaking strength and percent shell), feed intake and body weight will be monitored regularly. Bone quality will be assessed by measuring ash, Instron breaking strength and density using dual energy photon absorptiometry. Objective 3: Experiments will use both white and brown shell commercial laying hen strains. During the 18-week growing period, pullets will be fed conventional diets with no trace mineral supplement, supplemented with standard levels of trace minerals (Cu, Mn, Zn, Se)as inorganic salts, or supplemented with lowered levels of trace minerals as organic forms (compounds or proteinates). The three diets will also be fed with supplemental phytase in a 3 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Growth performance (body weight, feed intake, feed conversion) and trace mineral digestibility will be measured. Subsequent layer performance will be assessed during a six month during period during with conventional diets will be used.

Progress 10/01/03 to 10/01/05

Outputs
A series of studies were conducted at the Kentucky Experiment Station to examine methods of decreasing nutrient levels in poultry manure and litter in order to minimize negative effects on water and air quality when these products are used as fertilizers on crop and pasture land. Studies with broilers focused on reduction of nitrogen concentration and ammonia production in litter, while studies with egg-type birds examined dietary methods for reducing trace mineral levels in manure. Studies in commercial broiler houses evaluated sampling methodology for determination of nutrient content of broiler litter and measured the variation in litter nutrient content among different areas of the house (brooding and non-brooding areas). Results indicated that both the trench and point sampling procedures yielded similar values for litter pH, moisture, total nitrogen and total phosphorus. The trench method gave significantly higher values for total ammoniacal nitrogen, however, total ammoniacal nitrogen only accounted for 15% of total nitrogen. Significant variations in moisture, ammoniacal nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations were observed among the litter samples from the different areas of the broiler house. Decreasing dietary protein reduces nitrogen levels in the excreta, but can also reduce growth performance. To counteract this effect, studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of a fungal protease for increasing protein digestibility. Using an in vitro model simulating the digestive tract of the bird, it was shown that the fungal protease activity can be increased by adding acidifiers (e.g., citric acid) to the diet. A study with a commercial strain of white egg shell laying hens compared the effects of decreasing trace mineral supplementation of growing diets, substituting low levels of trace mineral (Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe) proteinates in place of conventional trace mineral levels provided as inorganic salts. Diets were fed with and without the enzyme phytase. Use of both trace mineral proteinates and phytase were effective in reducing mineral concentrations in the manure. A similar was conducted with a commercial strain of brown egg shell laying hens during an 18-week growth period. Corn-soybean meal diets were fed with 1) no trace mineral supplement, 2) a conventional inorganic trace mineral supplement, and 3) a supplement containing substantially lower levels of trace minerals provided by organic sources (proteinates). The three diets were fed with or without the enzyme phytase in a factorial arrangement. Phytase lowered the concentrations of iron, manganese, zinc and phosphorus in the manure by 26, 20, 16 and 13%, respectively. Compared with the conventional inorganic supplement, the use of the trace mineral proteinates at low dietary levels decreased the manure content of copper, iron, manganese and zinc by 75, 37, 67 and 85%, respectively. Use of low dietary levels of trace minerals as proteinates during the growing period, compared with conventional levels of inorganic trace mineral salts, had no deleterious effects on growth performance, bone mineralization and subsequent egg laying performance.

Impacts
Eggs and broiler meat provide the American public with an inexpensive source of high quality protein. In addition they are part of healthy diets, especially for individuals needing to control or reduce body weight. To continue to provide the public with this economical food source, poultry producers have to provide diets that maximize egg production and the health of their hens and minimize any deleterious effects on the environment and water quality resulting from the use of manure as fertilizer. The present studies show that use of appropriate levels of mineral proteinates and the enzyme phytase can substantially reduce mineral levels in manure without affecting production and the welfare of the hens. Supplementing diets with enzymes and acidifiers can be a useful tool to improve digestibility and therefore minimize excretion of nutrients. Use of all of these techniques can have a beneficial impact on the environment and water quality.

Publications

  • T. Ao, A. H. Cantor, A. J. Pescatore, M. J. Ford, J. L. Pierce, and K. A. Dawson, 2005. Effect of simultaneous supplementation of alpha-galactosidase and citric acid on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of broiler chicks. In: Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries, Proceedings of Alltech's 21st Annual Symposium (Suppl. 1: 78). Lexington, KY.
  • T. Ao, A. H. Cantor, A. J. Pescatore, M. J. Ford, J. L. Pierce, and K. A. Dawson, 2005. Influence of dietary supplementation of alpha-galactosidase and acidification of diet on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of broiler chicks. In: Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries, Proceedings of Alltech's 21st Annual Symposium (Suppl. 1: 77). Lexington, KY.
  • Manon, A, A. Cantor, A. Pescatore, M. Ford, H. Gillespie, and M. Daley, 2005. Effect of dietary supplementation of organic minerals and phytase on mineral concentration in manure of brown egg laying replacement pullets. Poultry Sci. 84: 12.
  • Manon, A. N., A. H. Cantor, A. J. Pescatore, and M. D. Ford, 2005. The effect of dietary supplementation of organic minerals and phytase on mineral concentration in manure of replacement pullets. In: Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries, Proceedings of Alltech's 21st Annual Symposium (Suppl. 1: 92). Lexington, KY.
  • Manon, A. N., A. H. Cantor, A. J. Pescatore, and M. D. Ford, 2005. Using organic sources of trace minerals and phytase to lower mineral concentrations in manure of brown shell laying replacement pullets. In: Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries, Proceedings of Alltech's 21st Annual Symposium (Suppl. 1: 91). Lexington, KY.
  • Pierce, J. L., A. J. Pescatore, M. J. Ford, and A. H. Cantor, 2005. The effects of source and level of dietary copper on copper and zinc metabolism in broiler chicks. Poultry Sci. 84: 10.
  • Pierce, J., B. L. Shafer, A. J. Pescatore, A. H. Cantor, and M. J. Ford, 2005. Effects of source and level of dietary copper on copper and zinc metabolism. In: Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries, Proceedings of Alltech's 21st Annual Symposium (Suppl. 1: 76). Lexington, KY.
  • Manon, A., A. Cantor, A. Pescatore, M. Ford, H. Gillespie, and M. Daley, 2005. Influence of dietary supplementation of organic minerals and phytase on mineral concentration in manure of replacement pullets. Poultry Sci. 84: 85
  • Pescatore, A. J., K. D. Casey, and R. S. Gates, 2005. Ammonia emissions from broiler houses. J. Appl. Poultry Res. 14:635-637.
  • Ao, T., 2005. Exogenous enzymes and organic acids in the nutrition of broiler chicks: effects on growth performance and in vivo and in vitro digestion. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
  • Ao, T., A. Cantor, A. Pescatore, M. Ford, and J. Pierce, 2005. Effects of simultaneous supplementation of alpha-galactosidase and citric acid on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of broiler chicks. Poultry Sci. 84: 84.
  • T. Ao, A. H. Cantor, A. J. Pescatore, M. J. Ford, J. L. Pierce, and K. A. Dawson, 2005. Effect of citric acid, alpha-galactosidase and protease on in vitro nutrient release from soybean meal and trypsin inhibitor content in raw whole soybean. In: Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries, Proceedings of Alltech's 21st Annual Symposium (Suppl. 1: 54). Lexington, KY.


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
A study was conducted in commercial broiler houses in Kentucky 1) to evaluate sampling methodology for determination of nutrient content of broiler litter and 2) to determine variation in litter nutrient content among brooding and non-brooding areas. Results indicated that both the trench and point sampling procedures yielded similar values for litter pH, moisture, total nitrogen and total phosphorus. The trench method gave significantly higher values for total ammoniacal nitrogen, however, total ammoniacal nitrogen only accounted for 15% of total nitrogen. Significant variations in moisture, ammoniacal nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations were observed among the litter samples from the different areas of the broiler house. Future studies will examine the impact of various dietary treatments (e.g., enzymes, feed additive, essential amino acid supplementation) on reduction of nitrogen levels in broiler litter. Two studies were conducted at the Kentucky Experiment Station with pullets of commercial white and brown shell egg laying strains to examine the effect of dietary trace mineral supplementation on manure concentrations of minerals. During a 19-week growth period, corn-soybean meal diets were fed with 1) no trace mineral supplement, 2) a conventional inorganic trace mineral supplement, and 3) a supplement containing substantially lower levels of trace minerals provided by organic sources (proteinates). The three diets were fed with or without the enzyme phytase in a factorial arrangement. In the white shell pullets, phytase lowered the concentrations of copper, iron and zinc in the manure by 16, 27 and 10%, respectively. Compared with the conventional inorganic supplement, the use of the trace mineral proteinates lowered the manure content of copper, iron and zinc by 23, 35 and 45%, respectively. Similar results were obtained with the brown shell pullets. No differences in final body were observed due to dietary treatments. Future studies will examine the impact of these pullet dietary treatments on the impact of bone mineralization and subsequent layer performance.

Impacts
Studies on broiler litter sampling demonstrated that both the trench and random walk methods provided similar estimates of litter nutrient content. It was also shown that, given the variations in litter nutrient content among different areas of broiler house, it is vital to obtain representative samples from different locations. This knowledge is extremely important in implementing nutrient management programs. The source and level of trace minerals impact their concentrations in manure. Our studies demonstrated that these manure concentrations can be significantly decreased by the use of decreased levels organic trace mineral sources (proteinates) and by the inclusion of phytase in the diet. Substantially decreasing excess trace mineral levels in manure can have a direct beneficial impact on the environment and water quality.

Publications

  • Singh, A., Bicudo, J., Tinoco, A., Tinoco, I., Gates, R., Casey, K. and Pescatore, A. 2004. Characterization of nutrients in built-up litter using trench and random walk sampling methods. J. Appl. Poultry Res. 13:426-432.
  • Ao, T., Cantor, A., Pescatore, A., Ford, M. and Pierce, J 2004. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of simultaneous supplementation of alpha-galactosidase and citric acid on nutrient release, digestibility and growth performance of broiler chicks. Poultry Sci. 83 (Suppl. 1): 148.
  • Pescatore, A. J., Casey, K., Gates, R., Ford, M., Wheeler, E. and Xin, H. 2004. Ammonia emissions from broiler houses during three consecutive flocks. Proc. XXII Worlds Poultry Congress, Instanbul, Turkey, p. 992.
  • Ao, T., Cantor, A., and Pescatore, A. 2004. In vitro evaluation of feed-grade enzyme products at pH levels simulating various parts of the avian digestive tract. Poultry Sci. 83: 1807 .
  • Cantor, A. H., Pescatore, A., Ford, M., Gillespie, H.,Ao, T., and Manon, A. 2004. Comparison feed restriction, dietary aluminum sulfate and a low density diet for force molting brown egg laying hens. Poultry Sci. 83: 1778.
  • Cantor, A. H., Hester, P., Pescatore, A., Ford, M., Gillespie, H., and Ao, T. 2004. Influence of supplemental 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and phytase on bone parameters of laying hens fed low-phosphorus diets. Poultry Sci. 83: 1768.
  • Pescatore, A. J., Casey, K., and Gates, R. 2004. Ammonia emissions from broiler houses. Poultry Sci. 83 (Suppl. 1): 124.