Dry Matter Intake and Plasma Mineral Levels of Steers Consuming Broiler Litter Containing Aluminum Sulfate

Abstract Aluminum sulfate applied to litter in broiler houses has been shown to lower soluble P in the runoff when the litter is applied to land. Because broiler litter is also used as a cattle feed, two trials using a total of 63 steers were conducted to determine whether treating broiler litter with aluminum sulfate affected consumption of a corn-litter mixture and plasma Al, Ca, Mg, and P levels. Treatments were pasture only or pasture plus ground corn ( Zea mays L.) mixed (1:1; as-fed) with either broiler litter treated with aluminum sulfate or untreated litter. In both trials, DM intake was lower ( P P >0.10) by treatments. In trial 1, plasma P was lower ( P P >0.10) by treatment. No visible signs of disease were observed in steers receiving aluminum sulfate-treated litter. Aluminum sulfate treatment of litter lowered DM intake of a corn-litter mixture fed to steers on bermudagrass.