SUITABILITY OF DRYIED POULTRY MANURE FOR USE AS ANIMAL FEED

The aim of this study was to determine the optimum quality of poultry manure dried at various layer thickness and temperatures. The effects of the depth of manure layer (1, 2 and 3 cm) and dryer temperature (40, 50 and 60◦ C) on the drying time and the quality of the dried manure as a safe animal feed were investigated. The results indicate that the optimum depth and temperature to dry manure in a heated air dryer is 3 cm and 60◦ C, respectively. Increasing the temperature and/or decreasing the depth of manure layer decrease the concentration of protein and amino acids in the dried manure. The temperature and depth of the manure layer did not affect the elemental composition of the dried manure. The presence and offensiveness of odour were reduced by 63.3% and 69.3%, respectively. The majority of the panel members described the odour of the dried manure as that of grain. The drying process reduced the number of bacteria, yeast and mould, and E. Coli by 65.62%-99.83%, 74.07%-99.63%, and 99.97% respectively. The Salmonallae were destroyed completely at temperatures above 50◦ C.