Bedding material in the form of pellets used as a litter in animal housing, and the method of its production
Description: At a time when the socio-economic environment expects safe production in the agri-food sector, many aspects should be taken into account. In poultry production, the key role is played by the efficiency of production, the quality of the raw material as well as the welfare and safety of production, including environmental safety. Other sectors also need improvement. Coffee production is constantly growing, and about 50% of the mass of coffee produced is waste, e.g. coffee husks. Coffee husks are an environmental hazard and a costly waste to be disposed of. Its reuse could be a good solution. One of them is a using it as a bedding material.
Pelleted bedding is often used in poultry production. It ensures higher hygiene of the floor (the bedding material is subjected to high temperature and pressure). Using husks from local coffee roasters as bedding material for broiler chickens may have potential. After the rearing period, the bedding with coffee husks could be a feritlizer. The pelleted bedding used for animal housing, and its production method consists of cereal straw, coffee husks, and a binder. It is under the patent application no. P.443383. Concerning solid components, i.e., straw, the coffee husks, the ratio is as follows: 90-50% of cereal straw and 10-50% of coffee husks. The percentage of all materials necessary to produce pellets is 35.5-64% grain straw, 7-35.5% coffee husks, and 29% water (binder) in the product mass. Grain straw and coffee husks are crushed to 1 - 7 mm. Ingredients in the form of cereal straw with a content of: 35.5-64%, in the weight of the product, coffee husks: 7-35.5%, in the weight of the product, in the proportions of ingredients, including solids (90-50% of the weight of cereal straw and 10-50% of the weight of coffee husks) were ground to 1-7 mm in length, and then the prepared ingredients were mixed, and a binder was added in the form of water with a content of 29% in the weight of the product. Subsequently formed, the mass was mixed, and then, to produce pellets, it was poured into a granulator with a sieve mesh diameter of 2-8 mm. Our study compared production efficiency and meat quality and assessed the occurrence of footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens. Broiler chickens reared on cut wheat straw bedding, raw coffee husks, and on pellets made of both materials in a 50:50 ratio were compared. It was concluded that coffee husks as a component of pellets had a positive effect on reducing the occurrence of footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens and their slaughter yield. The bedding was enriched with nutrients, which, together with poultry manure, could be a good fertilizer for agricultural soils after rearing. The use of granulated bedding was recommended. In conclusion: Using of coffee husks as a bedding material can improve the poultry housing quality. As a component, coffee husks are cheap, with a high score of water holding capacity (pellet) and odorless possibilities. During rearing, there was a distinct pleasant smell of coffee (up to 3 weeks). Extra profit - lower footpad dermatitis frequency. Coffee husks can be used as a safe natural material for animals, humans, and the environment.
Organisation: Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology
Innovator(s): Jakub Biesek, Sebastian Wlaźlak, Mirosław Banaszak, Małgorzata Gotowska, Marek Adamski
Category: Agriculture and Aquaculture
Country: Poland
