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Effect of Diet on Feces Composition and the Implications on Environmental Quality

Department of dairy and Poultry Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0930; Phone: (904) 392-1931; FAX: (904) 392-3047

Donald Barnard

Medical and Veterinary Entomology Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL 32604

Roger Nordstedt

Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611

Correspondence: Don R. Sloan

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects on fecal nitrogen (FN) and phosphorus (FP) levels by varying dietary nitrogen and phosphorus. Hens received diets containing either 15.5, 12.7, or 12.7% protein plus 150g of added methionine/ton. Their feces were analyzed for total nitrogen. On a dry basis, FN averaged 6.07, 5.47, or 5.12%, respectively for the 15.5, 12.8, or 12.8% protein plus 150g of added methionine/ton diets. Another group of hens received diets containing 3.0% calcium with either 0.45, 0.55, or 0.65% total phosphorus, and their feces were analyzed. On a dry weight basis, FP was 1.89, 2.19, and 2.78%, respectively.

In a second series of diets, FP from a control diet (3.6% calcium and 0.45% phosphorus) was compared to the effects of diets with either 3.0 or 4.2% calcium and either 0.50, 1.00, or 1.50% phosphorus. FP for the control diet was 1.65, 1.86, 3.76, or 5.37% for the 3.0% calcium series and 2.09, 3.53, or 5.57% for the 4.2% calcium series with phosphorus of 0.50, 1.00, or 1.50%, respectively.

These data indicate that nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the feces can be reduced and environmental quality protected by feeding regimes.

Key Words: Environmental quality • feces composition • manure nitrogen • manure phosphorus