Evaluation of the Use of Turkey Mortalities
as a Feedstuff in Early Weaned Baby Pig Diets

Introduction

Mortalities in turkey, broiler and layer operations currently are treated as a waste product, with cost of disposal borne by the poultry producer. In Missouri, poultry production is concentrated in areas of the state that have steep hills and/or karst topography. These geographical features cause increased concern about animal waste disposal. Burial is inadvisable. Composting waste and then spreading it as fertilizer causes concern about nitrogen application levels.

The use of poultry mortalities as a source of supplemental protein and energy in livestock feeds addresses both of the above concerns. Using mortalities as a feed source has the potential to reduce disposal costs and increase producers' net income. Re-cycling this waste product provides an opportunity to decrease the total waste stream being applied to the land resource.

The objectives of this demonstration/research trial were to determine the acceptability of extruded turkey mortalities in early weaned (21 days) baby pig diets, measure pig performance on these diets, and evaluate the economic value of turkey mortalities as an ingredient of baby pig diets. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with age, sex, and initial weight used as blocking factors. Phase 1 of the trial ran from day 0 to day 14 postweaning. Phase 2 of the trial ran from day 14 to termination. Weights were recorded on days 0, 7, 14 and 33 or 35.

Lincoln University (LU) supplied 164 crossbred barrows and gilts which were of predominantly Landrace, Hampshire, and Duroc breeding. The individually identified baby pigs were weighed at weaning and placed into the nursery. The treatments began immediately. The pigs averaged 19 days of age when placed on the trial, with a average weight of 13.22 lb. In accordance with the trial design, pigs were weaned and randomly assigned to one of the three treatments with four pens assigned to each treatment (Table 1.) Feed consumption records were kept. The final weights were recorded on day 33 (first repetition) and on day 35 (second repetition).                                                                                       Go to Top

Trial Design

Table 1: Diets by Phase and Experimental Treatment

The trial diets were high quality amino acid balanced diets with Treatment 1, an animal protein based (spray-dried porcine blood plasma, spray-dried blood meal, dried whey) baby pig diet used as a positive control. Treatment 2 was the experimental diet utilizing the extruded protein supplement consisting of 40% turkey mortalities and 60% soybean meal (SBM) with 48% crude protein. Treatment 3 was a vegetable protein based baby pig diet used as a control (Table 2). All diets were formulated to meet the nutritional needs of the early weaned baby pig. To better meet the protein requirements of the pigs the trial was split into two Phases. Dietary protein content was adjusted between Phases (Table 2). Pen averages were utilized for statistical analysis of these data. A protected least significant difference analysis was utilized for means separation.
The nursery facility provided by LU is an environmentally controlled unit which contained twelve 4 foot by 8 foot raised deck nursery pens. Feed consumption data was collected by pen. Quantitative data examined included average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain to feed (G/F) ratio. Economic data compiled included cost per ton of feed and cost per unit of gain.          Go to Top

Diet Composition

Table 2: Diet Composition

Calculated dietary levels of selected nutrients

1Plasma, blood and meat meal were spray dried porcine products
²Carbadox added at manufacturer’s suggested rate                                                        Go to Top

Pig Performance

Pig performance on all three treatments was acceptable. During the first week of the trial, pigs on treatment 1 ,the animal protein (AP) diet, had significantly higher ADG than the pigs on treatment 2, the turkey protein (TP) diet and treatment 3, the vegetable protein (VP) diet, with gains of 0.62 lb., 0.48 lb. and 0.50 lb. respectively (Table 3). When ADGs for weeks one and two were combined for Phase 1 (P1), there were no significant differences between the treatments, although the trend indicated an improvement for the AP diet. During Phase 1, ADFI was higher for the AP diet than for the other two diets.

During Phase 2 (P2), ADFI on TP was 9.3% greater than on AP or VP. Gain to feed ratio was increased at least 10% for the TP diet when compared to the AP or VP diets (Table 3, Figure 1, Figure 2).

Table 3: Performance Data - by Repetition & Combined

Values in bold print are significantly different at P<.05
Data reported in pounds

Figure 1: Average Daily Gains

Figure 2: ADG, ADFI, G/F

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Cost of Diets

Feed costs were calculated using June, 1996 ingredient prices (Table 4). These costs are for raw ingredients and do not include milling costs. As expected, the complex AP diet was the most expensive diet in Phase 1. The TP and VP diet costs were the same and 49% less than the AP diet (Table 5). During Phase 2, the VP diet was less expensive, costing 95.4% of the TP diet.

Table 4: Cost of Major Diet Feedstuffs
June, 1996

*Spray dried porcine products

While feed was the only expense utilized in the cost of gains calculations for this report, it is a valid comparison considering feed costs comprise more than 65% of the variable costs of producing feeder pigs. Cost of gains comparisons during Phase 1 pointed out the need for producers knowing their costs of gain. Pigs on the AP diet gained significantly faster then pigs on the TP and VP diets, but when costs of gains were compared, the cost per pound of gain was double for the AP diet (Table 6). During Phase 2, costs of gains were closer for all diets; however, the TP diet cost 20% more per pound of gain.

Table 6: Cost of Gain by Treatment

TREATMENTS	ADG	G/F	$/lb. gain
Phase 1
Treatment 1 (AP diet)	.88	.82	.36
Treatment 2 (TP diet)	.79	.82	.18
Treatment 3 (VP diet)	.79	.82	.18
Phase 2
Treatment 1 (AP then VP diet)	1.47	.62	.15
Treatment 2 (TP diet)	1.43	.55	.18
Treatment 3 (VP diet)	1.43	.61	.15

Total feed costs for the 34 days (two repetition average) on trial ranged from $6.39 to $8.98 per pig (Table 7). Combined Phase cost of gains was $0.16/lb. for the VP diet, $0.18/lb. for the TP diet and $0.22/lb. for the AP diet.

Table 7: Total Feed Costs by Treatment

	Total Gain	Total $	$/lb.
Treatment 1 (AP & VP diet)	41.80	8.98	.22
Treatment 2 (TP diet)	39.69	7.17	.18
Treatment 3 (VP diet)	39.69	6.39	.16

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Summary

In summary, the spray dried porcine products outperformed (ADG, G/F) simpler diets but at a higher cost per pound of gain. It is difficult to evaluate the economic benefit that may be captured due to improved rate of gain early in the nursery period due to spray dried blood products. It appears the extruded turkey mortalities can be used to replace vegetable protein as a supplemental protein source with little effect on pig performance. While no treatment with extruded turkey product along with animal blood products was represented in this study, it is reasonable to expected that turkey product could be formulated into a diet containing the animal blood products and similar growth responses would result. The extruded turkey product will be more competitive when at higher SBM prices.

Given the impact of extruded turkey product on G/F without an effect on ADG, a simple price comparison based on the G/F expectation is appropriate. It appears that the turkey product must be priced less than 91.6% of the current cost of soybean meal 48% for it to be a good value for swine producers.

Sixty percent of the turkey product is comprised of soybean meal, thus the fixed costs of obtaining turkey mortalities and processing them must be covered by the cost savings of the soybean meal replaced. With the current cost of soybean meal at $240 per ton, the selling cost of the turkey product must be less than $219.84/ton (.916 G/F difference X $240/ton). The soybean meal cost associated with 60% of the product are $144/ton, which leaves 219.84-144 or $75.84 per ton to cover all costs plus margin when soybean meal costs $240/ton.

The same calculations when soybean meal is $160/ton would leave $50.56 to cover all costs plus margin. Obviously, as soybean meal becomes more expensive this product begins to become more of a value to both the manufacturer and the swine producer.                                                           Go to Top

Personnel

Personnel involved in the project were:

Chris Boeckmann, co-owner of Osage Ag Concerns; Russ Kremer, co-owner of Osage Ag Concerns and demonstration farm operator; Arlene Stewart, LU swine research technician; Dr. Steve Meredith, LU animal science professor; Aaron Wood, LU student; Scott Bock, LU farm worker; Ed DeOrnellis, Triple F Feeds and Insta-pro extruders; Dr. Mark Newcomb, extension swine specialist; Mark Stewart (author), regional livestock specialist.                                                                                       Go to Top

Journal of Animal Science Abstract

Abstract Published in the J. Ani. Sci.,
Presented at Mid-West Section Meetings
March, 1996

151 Evaluating an extruded turkey mortality product as a supplemental protein source for nursery pigs.

A. Wood*a, M. Stewartb, A. Stewarta, M. Newcombb, Lincoln Universitya, Jefferson City, MO, University of Missourib, Columbia.

Crossbred pigs (N=164) weighing an average of 6.01 kg at weaning (avg. age = 19 d) were used in two trials designed to evaluate performance of weaning pigs on a diet utilizing extruded turkey mortalities as a supplemental protein source. A randomized complete block design was used with both time and initial weight used as blocking factors. Three diet treatments were used. All diets were corn/soy based. Treatment 1 (T1) contained spray dried porcine products, treatment 2 (T2) contained extruded turkey mortality product and treatment 3 (T3) utilized a simple corn/soy diet. All phase diets were balanced to supply equal levels of lactose and added fat (phase 1, 1.6% and 4%; phase 2, 1.3% and 3%, respectively). For trial 1 weights were taken on d 0, 7, 14 (phase 1) and d 33 (phase 2). For trial 2 weights were taken on day 0, 7, 14 (phase 1) and 35 (phase 2). In phase 1, week 1, ADG was greater for T1 (P<.05) than for T2 and T3. In week 2, treatment did not affect ADG. For the 14 d phase 1 period, ADG was not significantly different but T1 did show a trend toward improved ADG (P<.066). ADG in phase 2 was not significantly different. Phase 1, T1 ADFI was greater (P<.05) than T2 and T3. Phase 2, T2 ADFI was greater (P<.05) than T1 and T3. In phase 1, G/F was not different. During phase 2, treatment 2 had an 11.3% and a 10.0% lower G/F (P<.05) than treatments 1 and 3, respectively. These results suggest that this extruded turkey mortality product can be substituted for a portion of soybean meal without affecting growth in young pig diets.

Performance Data

Combined Trials and Repetitions
Treatment	1	2	3	SEM
ADG, wk 1	.28a	.22b	.23b	.03
ADG, wk 2	.52	.50	.50	.03
ADG, P1	.40	.36	.36	.02
ADG, P2	.67	.65	.65	.03
ADFI, P1	.49a	.44b	.45b	.02
ADFI, P2	1.07a	1.18b	1.07a	.06
G/F, P1	.82	.82	.82	.01
G/F, P2	.62a	.55b	.61a	.01

abValues with different superscripts are significant at P<.05.
Key Words: Nursery Pigs, Extruded Turkey Mortality

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	Callaway County Extension callawayco@missouri.edu Last update: 12/28/11