Iran: Protein feed additive produced from broiler litter

Danesh Banyan explained that ruminants have a unique digestive system allowing them to consume some by-products, not fitting for other species.

“Poultry manure is a good source of protein, energy and minerals. In the United States, broiler litter has been used as a source of animal feed for more than 40 years, without any harmful effects on animals as well as humans who have consumed the products of these animals,” the company said.

“The presence of bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia is one of the limiting factors for using raw poultry litter in animal feed. However, correct processing and enrichment remove pathogenic factors.”

Currently, this product is highly welcomed due to the lack of livestock inputs and the high prices. It makes animal feed cheaper by about 40%…

Overcoming feedstuff shortage

Mahshid Niko, a nutrition expert of Danesh Banyan, said that the company managed to develop a feed additive from poultry litter containing 24% to 25% of protein and 2,300 to 2,400 kcal of energy. Niko said that this product comes in handy for the Iranian livestock farmers who suffer from soaring feed prices and a lack of feedstuff on the domestic market.

Danesh Banyan, however, has not disclosed any details pertaining to the processing of poultry manure.

“Currently, this product is highly welcomed due to the lack of livestock inputs and the high prices. It makes animal feed cheaper by about 40%, and due to high protein and energy content, it also secures good weight gains,” he added.

The feed additive is primarily to replace barley in the livestock diet, Niko said, estimating that it has twice the higher protein content and as much energy as barley. It is also 50% cheaper than barley on the Iranian market.

Production to be ramped up

Danesh Banyan has worked on developing this feed additive for the past 12 years. The investments allocated in this venture have already started to pay off.

“Farmers obtain good results in terms of weight gains and adjusting production costs at their production assets,” Niko said. “Currently, our company runs the only factory employing this kind of technology in the Middle East.”

Danesh Banyan currently produces 600 tonnes of its protein feed additive per month. Niko said that this figure needs to be ramped up, and the company is presently seeking support from the Iranian government to do that. He added that expanding production capacities would help Iranian livestock farmers.