Apparent digestibility of minerals by lactating cows from a total mixed ration supplemented with poultry litter.

Apparent digestibility of minerals by lactating cows from a multiple-component, conventional Israeli TMR (control) and from a TMR containing 10% poultry litter (DM basis) was examined. Ten cows in early lactation were divided into two groups of similar performance (39 kg of milk/d) and fed for ad libitum intake the two TMR for 28 d. Poultry litter contributed, as a percentage of total requirements, 44.4% of Ca, 41.0% of P, 32.0% of S, 22.8% of Mg, and 25.9% of K. Apparent digestibility of the macroelements was higher for cows fed the TMR supplemented with poultry litter than for those fed the control TMR. Apparent digestibility of the control TMR was 22.3% for Ca, 29.4% for Mg, 39.1% for P, and 62.2% for S; the apparent digestibility of the treatment TMR was 30.1% for Ca, 45.6% for Mg, 45.3% for P, and 65.6% for S. Poultry litter contributed the entire requirements of Zn, Mn, and Co; 56% of Cu; and 32% of Se. The apparent digestibility of the control TMR was 15.6% for Cu, 39.6% for Zn, 8.51% for Mn, 42.8% for Co, and 41.6% for Se, and the apparent digestibility of the treatment TMR was 27.9% for Cu, 54.0% for Zn, 17.8% for Mn, 37.0% for Co, and 63.9% for Se. Poultry litter is a good source of macro- and microelements for lactating cows and, at 10% of the TMR, could ensure against mineral deficiencies.