Chicken manure can be processed into animal feed through various methods, each with its own advantages and applications. One of the most common techniques is natural drying, where fresh chicken manure is spread on a concrete floor or mat and exposed to sunlight. This process removes impurities, sterilizes, and deodorizes the material. Once the moisture content drops below 10%, the dried product is crushed and stored for later use.
Another method involves heating. Fresh chicken manure can be heated at 70°C for 12 hours, 140°C for 1 hour, or 180°C for 30 minutes. Alternatively, 30% industrial ferrous sulfate can be added to the manure, mixed well, and then dried at 120–160°C until the moisture level reaches 10%. This helps in reducing odors and improving the quality of the final product.
Solar greenhouse drying is another efficient technique. Chicken manure is placed in a glass greenhouse, where it is dried using solar energy while being agitated and dehumidified. This method is both eco-friendly and cost-effective.
High-temperature rapid drying uses specialized dryers that reduce moisture content to 13% or less at temperatures ranging from 500°C to 550°C. This process not only dries the manure quickly but also preserves its nutrient content, making it suitable for high-quality animal feed.
Microwave drying is an advanced method where pre-dried chicken manure (with moisture below 40%) is pulverized and then exposed to microwave radiation. This technique effectively dries the material while preserving nutrients, killing pathogens, and eliminating odors.
Fermentation is another popular approach. Natural anaerobic fermentation involves placing the manure in sealed containers, allowing gases to escape through small holes. The moisture content is maintained between 32% and 38%, and the fermentation period varies depending on the season. Oxygenation fermentation, on the other hand, introduces air to promote the growth of aerobic bacteria like yeast and lactic acid bacteria. This process breaks down harmful substances, improves amino acid content, and reduces odor.
Alcohol fermentation involves adding soft candy, 10% alcohol, and 10% water to the fresh manure, which is then fermented in a tank for 10–20 hours. After steaming at 100°C, the product can be used as a flavor-enhanced feed. Another method involves mixing chicken manure with beer grains and fermenting it underground for a week, resulting in a wine-flavored product.
Silage fermentation is commonly used in livestock feeding. The manure is treated to a moisture content of around 60%, mixed with green feed, bran, and salt, and left to ferment for 30–45 days. Studies have shown that silage containing up to 10% chicken manure performs similarly to traditional corn stover silage in terms of smell, texture, and overall quality.
Chemical treatments such as propionic acid and acetic acid are used to improve the palatability and stability of chicken manure feed. Ferrous sulfate treatment is another method where manure is mixed with ferrous sulfate and coal ash before drying, resulting in odorless feed suitable for livestock.
Puffing treatment involves dehydrating wet chicken manure, adding tempering agents like glutinous rice or wheat bran, and then subjecting it to puffing machines. This process enhances digestibility, sterilizes the material, and improves feed quality.
Thermal spray technology is an innovative method where chicken manure is pre-dried to under 30% moisture and then subjected to high-temperature and high-pressure treatment. This process not only sterilizes and deodorizes the material but also improves its nutritional value and palatability. Research has shown that hot-sprayed chicken manure can replace fishmeal in some feed formulations.
In terms of feeding effects, studies have demonstrated that chicken manure-based feeds can significantly improve weight gain in pigs, increase milk production in dairy cows, and enhance growth in cattle and sheep. For example, when 50% of traditional feed was replaced with chicken manure, pigs showed a 2.66% increase in daily weight gain. In laying hens, replacing up to 20% of feed with chicken manure had no significant effect on egg production.
For aquaculture, chicken manure-based feeds have been successfully used in fish farming. Experiments have shown that incorporating 30–60% chicken manure in fish diets improved growth rates and reduced feed costs by up to 28.7%.
Overall, chicken manure has considerable potential as a protein-rich feed source. However, challenges remain, including ensuring safety, standardizing nutritional data, and improving processing technologies. With further research and development, chicken manure-based feed can play a vital role in addressing global protein shortages, reducing environmental impact, and increasing economic efficiency in large-scale poultry farming.
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