Chicken *h*t!

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Penn State Ag Sciences News 4.6.2007
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RESEARCHERS BURN POULTRY LITTER FOR ENERGY AND TO REDUCE WATER POLLUTION

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Researchers in Penn State's College of
Agricultural Sciences are working to perfect a method for disposing of
poultry litter that could save energy costs to heat poultry houses and
reduce water pollution from manure applied to fields as fertilizer.

Supported by a two-year $50,000 grant from the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture, scientists are collaborating with turkey
growers and the Adams County poultry company Pilgrim's Pride to
demonstrate that incineration is a viable method to resolve problems
associated with the spreading of poultry litter.

"Growers spend thousands of dollars for propane to heat their baby
birds," says Paul Patterson, professor of poultry science. "So if we can
generate heat to offset their costs -- and if we can improve water
quality by reducing soil phosphate levels -- it's a win-win situation.
The implications of this, if it can be done on a large scale, are huge."

Poultry litter - wood shavings and manure - are now spread on the
land to provide plant nutrients. However, this practice can contribute
to a major problem in the Susquehanna River drainage, by far the largest
source of fresh water to the Chesapeake Bay. Excess nutrients from
poultry and livestock manure cause algae blooms in the bay, which
deplete oxygen for aquatic species each summer. Animal feed imported
from the Midwest disrupts the nutrient balance of the region because the
resulting manure - which is costly to export - is disposed of locally.

Valued at between $600 million and $700 million annually, the poultry
industry is the second-largest agricultural enterprise in Pennsylvania,
trailing only dairy. Pennsylvania is the third-largest egg-producing
state in the nation and a leader in hatching-egg production. "So we have
a lot of poultry litter to dispose of," Patterson says. "Penn State has
been studying the burning of poultry litter since the 1980s. We believe
it can play an important role in preventing excess-nutrient pollution."

Patterson explains that burning a pound of poultry litter produces about
4,000 BTUs. That is an acceptable yield, he notes -- about a third of
the energy gained from burning a pound of coal.

Experimental burning is being done in a pellet stove designed to burn
corn and coal. "What is left is an ash rich in calcium and phosphorus
that can be used as a feed for birds or other animals," Patterson says.
"Or, because it is only one-tenth the weight of manure, it can be
inexpensively hauled away and properly utilized so the nutrients won't
get into ground or surface waters. This phosphorus-rich ash also could
be bagged and sold as a plant fertilizer."

Pilgrim's Pride representatives estimate that burning litter
could reduce the propane bill for brooding birds by 70 percent,
Patterson adds. "Poultry growers could save money, and we could reduce
our dependence on fossil fuels and improve water quality in the region,
all at the same time."”

“In related news...


Pungent pulp: Panda poop perfect for paper

BEIJING, China (AP) -- There's a new Chinese saying: When life hands you panda poop, make paper.

Researchers at a giant panda reserve in southern China are looking for paper mills to process their surplus of fiber-rich panda excrement into high quality paper.

Liao Jun, a researcher at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base in Sichuan province, said the idea came to them after a visit to Thailand last year where they found paper made from elephant dung. They thought panda poop would produce an even finer quality paper, he said.

The base is in talks with several paper mills on how to turn the droppings of Jing Jing, Ke Bi, Ya Ya and dozens of other pandas at the base into reams of office paper and rolls of wrapping paper, Liao said.

They hope to have a product line available by next year, he said....

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/03/26/panda.poop.ap/index.html”

“Fine quality paper? Oh sure!

This paper smells like $h*t!”

“panda poop wrapping paper?

awesome!”

“Washington Times?

Who knew?”