Effect of feeding high levels of broiler litter on mineral metabolism and health of beef cows

Some cattle producers have reported metabolic disturbances in beef cows fed high levels of broiler litter. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate mineral metabolism of beef cows fed different levels of broiler litter. Sixty Angus-Hereford crossbred cows ranging in age from 3 to 12 yr were blocked by age, BW, and stage of gestation, and randomly allotted within blocks to three diets: 1) mixed hay, full-fed; 2) 4.1 kg of a mixture of 80% broiler litter and 20% cornmeal plus mixed hay (low-litter diet); and 3) 8.2 kg of the 80% litter and 20% cornmeal mixture plus mixed hay (high-litter diet). Cows fed the litter diets were fed 57 g of magnesium oxide per head per day in the litter-corn mixture. Cows fed the three diets had access to a high-Mg mineral mixture. Experimental diets were fed from January 4, 1995 to April 19, 1995, and calving began on March 15. There were no physical signs of metabolic disturbances in any of the cattle. Blood serum Ca decreased and P levels increased in the cows fed both levels of broiler litter after the first 28 d on experiment. On d 28, average serum Ca values were 8.5 mg / dL for the cows fed hay, compared to 7.9 and 7.6 mg / dL for those fed the low and high levels of litter, respectively (P < .01). The average serum P values were 5.7, 8.2, and 9.1 mg/dL, respectively (P < .01). Generally, serum Ca remained lower and serum P remained higher for the cows fed broiler litter until the end of the winter feeding period (105 d). By mid-summer, serum Ca and P were similar (P > .05) for cows that had been fed the three diets. Serum Mg, Cu, and Zn were not affected by feeding litter. Urinary Ca and Mg, expressed as units per unit of creatinine, did not differ (P > .05) among treatments. Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) was higher (P < .05) in cows fed the lower level of litter than those fed the higher level in April (105 d). Serum PTH values for cows fed hay were intermediate. Birth weights, rate of gain, and weaning weights of calves did not differ among the three diets. Feeding high levels of broiler litter to beef cows appears to affect serum Ca and P.