Poultry litter ash as a replacement for dicalcium phosphate in broiler diets

An experiment was designed to evaluate the nutritional value of poultry litter ash (PLA) under commercial-type conditions. Diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of the broiler utilizing PLA at combinations of 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% in starter, grower, and finisher diets as a replacement for dicalcium phosphate (DP). No significant effects were observed on BW, feed consumption, FCR, or mortality when broilers were fed PLA to 100% replacement for DP to 41 d of age. Processing performance, as measured by carcass and meat yield, of broilers at 42 d of age was also unaffected (P > 0.05). The complete substitution of DP with PLA failed to compromise growth and processing performance in market age broilers and the PLA produced via the combustion of poultry litter can be used as a phosphorus source in poultry diets.