1Facultad de Ingeniería Química Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán Av. Juárez # 421, Col. Ciudad Industrial, 97288 Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico.
2Campo Experimental Mocochá. INIFAP-SAGARPA, A.P. 4–100, 97112 Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico.
In order to reduce the risk of pollution of swine manure, as well as making its profitable use as a feed for ruminants, it was treated with urea and/or a legume seed. In the first experiment in situ dry matter digestibility was estimated after addition of 30g urea or 50g raw legume seed/kg of swine manure solids (SMS) using two fermentation periods, 5 and 7 days. In the second experiment 0, 15 or 30g urea and/or soybean per kg SMS was fermented for 3 or 5 days. In the third experiment the effect of incorporating treated SMS in sheep diets on growth and body composition was evaluated. Generation of ammonia by the urealegume system in the SMS increased its digestibility and was reflected in weight gain in the experimental animals. SMS treated with 30g urea and 15g soybean/kg SMS fermented for 5 days could be included in sheep diets up to 15% of feed dry matter with positive growth results over short growth periods.
Swine manure, alkali treatments, tropical sheep
