ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF USING POULTRY LITTER IN CATTLE FEEDLOTS: SONORA, MEXICO.

A computerized linear programming model was used to calculate diets for steers weighing 200, 300 and 400 kgs, and gaining 0.9, 1.1 and 1.2 kgs/day respectively. A prototype diet was calculated for each combination of weight and weight gain. Later, nine kinds of poultry litters were made available, varying in their protein and energy content. Results showed that poultry litter can substitute economically for protein, energy, roughages and mineral sources. The least cost level of poultry litter in diets ranged from 7.17 to 19.99 percent for 200 kgs steers, 3.21 to 9.89 percent for 300 kgs steers, and 3.21 to 9.89 percent for 400 kgs steers. Besides the savings obtained when poultry litter cost was $3,000 pesos/metric ton, it was found that the use of poultry litter in the diets was relatively insensitive to price changes.

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