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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #252643

Title: Poultry Industry Trends for Litter Utilization

Author
item Miles, Dana
item Brooks, John

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/23/2010
Publication Date: 5/23/2010
Citation: Miles, D.M., Brooks, J.P. 2010. Poultry Industry Trends for Litter Utilization. WEF Residuals and Biosolids Conference, Water Environment Federation. p. 1440-1447. CD-Rom.

Interpretive Summary: The poultry growers’ concern is producing a quality meat product while maintaining a profit. Broiler litter, a mix of bedding and excreta, is a production by-product. Without economic, environmentally sound litter uses, potential or real regional litigation may force alternative management that can be detrimental to the grower’s bottom line as well as increase cost of chicken to consumers. Litter surpluses exist, but great uncertainty surrounds actual amounts available. This brief review demonstrates that there is a significant amount of knowledge surrounding litter properties, characteristics, and utilization, including a good assessment of variables contributing to wide variations in these. The integrated structure of the poultry industry typically leaves the litter ownership with individual contract growers. As such, there is a lack of formal infrastructure to readily connect litter suppliers with potential users.

Technical Abstract: Broiler litter utilization falls primarily into two broad categories, as fertilizer or in litter-to-energy processes. Without economic, environmentally sound litter uses, potential or real regional litigation may force alternative management that can be detrimental to the grower’s bottom line as well as increase cost of chicken to consumers. Litter surpluses exist, but great uncertainty surrounds actual amounts available. This brief review demonstrates that there is a significant amount of knowledge surrounding litter properties, characteristics, and utilization, including a good assessment of variables contributing to wide variations in these. The integrated structure of the poultry industry typically leaves the litter ownership with individual contract growers. As such, there is a lack of formal infrastructure to readily connect litter suppliers with potential users.