The feasibility of ensiling swine waste (primarily feces) with ground orchardgrass hay or with ground corn grain was determined by mixing and ensiling the following proportions of each (as is basis): 80:20, 70;30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70 and 20:80.

In the swine waste-orchardgrass hay trials, good fermentation occurred in the 40:60 through 60:40 mixtures as determined primarily by pH and lactic acid. Bacteria and total coliform numbers decreased and fecal coliforms were completely destroyed. In a sheep metabolism trial, organic matter digestibility was similar in 40:60 and 60:40 swine waste~orchardgrass hay silages and in orchardgrass hay fed alone, but was higher (P<.05) in an orchardgrass hay plus soybean meal diet. Crude protein digestibility was higher (P<.05) in the orchardgrass hay plus soybean meal diet than any of the other diets. Nitrogen retention was negative (P<.05) for sheep fed the silages. Organic matter digestibility of the swine waste calculated by difference was over 60 percent, In the sheep palatability trial, dry matter intake was similar between the diets. Ina swine palatability trial, dry matter intake decreased as swine waste-orchardgrass hay silages were substituted for the basal diet at levels of 25 and 50% of the dry matter.

In the swine waste-ground corn trials, mixtures containing more than 30% waste exhibited good fermentation characteristics. Ensiling reduced the total bacteria numbers and completely destroyed all coliform bacteria. In a sheep metabolism trial, digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, organic matter, and NFE increased linearly CP<.01) as 20 and 40% of the 40:60 and 60:40 silages were substituted for a basal diet composed of 50% of a 14% protein corn-soybean meal mixture and 50% mixed hay. Nitrogen retention (percent of absorbed) decreased linearly for diets containing the 60:40 silage (P<.05). In the sheep palatability trial dry matter intake was greatest (P<.01) for the basal with either 20% of the 60:40 silage or 40% of the 40:60 silage.

In the swine metabolism trial, digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein decreased as 25 and 50% of the 40:60 and 60:40 swine waste-ground corn silages were substituted for a basal 14% crude protein corn-soybean meal diet. Fecal nitrogen excretion was higher (P<.01) and nitrogen retention lower in swine fed diets containing the silages. In the swine palatability trial, dry matter intake was not different between diets.

Swine waste was successfully ensiled with either orchardgrass hay or ground corn grain. Ensiling was an effective way to destroy many potential pathogens. Diets containing these silages were fed to both ruminants and nonruminants. The high levels of fiber in the swine waste-orchardgrass hay silages had an adverse effect on acceptability by nonruminants, but not ruminants. Ruminants and nonruminants both consumed adequate amounts of the swine wasteground corn silages for maintenance.