Abstract
SUMMARY Dried poultry waste was substituted for soya and fish meals in an intensive beef ration to ascertain if it was a satisfactory alternative source of nitrogen and in an attempt to reduce the cost of production. The experiment was conducted over 3 years in each of which groups of autumn-born British Friesian male castrates were taken from 150 kg live weight to slaughter at 400 kg on various rations. The treatment rations were made isonitrogenous with the control (14·5% crude protein). When the crude protein of the poultry manure was low (24%) it was necessary to include 27·6% in the diet and poor performances resulted. For manures of 30 % crude protein, or when urea was added to equalize the nitrogen content of diets containing up to 17·5% manure, performance was not markedly different from that shown with control diets. There was a considerable saving in the food cost at the prices ruling when the experiment was conducted and it was concluded that the use of dried poultry manure could increase the profitability of intensively produced beef.