Abstract:
Five groups of broiler chickens were raised on feed containing varying substitutions of single cell
protein from preprocessed waste activated sludge (pWAS) in varying compositions of 0:100, 25:75,
50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 pWAS: fishmeal by mass. Forty chickens per batch were evaluated for growth
rate, mortality rate, and feed conversion efficiency (ηє). The initial mass gain rate, mortality rate, initial
and operational cost analyses showed that protein from pWAS could successfully replace the
commercial feed supplements with a significant cost saving without adversely affecting the health of
the birds. The chickens raised on preprocessed WAS weighed 19% more than those raised on
fishmeal protein supplement over a 45 day test period. Growing chickens on pWAS translated into a
46% cost saving due to the fast growth rate and minimal death losses before maturity.
