Case Study 20

Performance and welfare benefits of non-ruminant PAP in animal feed

  • Feed ban lifted 3 years’ ago

  • Research and on-farm experience show benefits of PAP in feed

  • Improvements in animal health and performance

  • Availability of segregated processing still a limit on usage

Since September 2021, porcine processed animal protein (PAP) has been permitted in poultry feed and poultry PAP in pig feed in the EU.

Cross species feeding (poultry PAP to pigs, and porcine PAP to poultry) is mandatory to avoid same species consumption. Therefore, there are strict rules for collection, processing, transport and use in feed applications for food producing animals.

These rules took time to address operationally in the supply chain before the first batch of feed was delivered to farm. Early movers into this area were ForFarmers and AgruniekRijnvallei, using porcine-PAP in poultry diets since March 2022, with feed mills in the Netherlands and Germany supplying feed into the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

In 2024, researchers published the first results from performance trials in lab conditions and on farm, the results show the advantages of using PAPs in feed.

Performance of porcine PAP in poultry feeds

Dutch Feed Company Agruniek Rijnvallei (AR) refurbished a feed plant to comply with the new rules for using porcine PAP in poultry feed. 

Before this investment AR investigated the impact of porcine PAP in poultry feed for laying hens with feeding tests at the Poultry Innovation Lab Aeres on two groups of 500 brown hens and in the field on two groups of 30.000 brown hens.

These tests compared a regular diet against a diet with a high inclusion (7,5%) of PAPs in hens between 27 to 64 weeks old. Performance and welfare parameters such as wounds, feather quality and mortality were monitored. 

Wounds related to cannibalism were significantly reduced for the PAP diet while feather quality improved. The total mortality rate was 33% less than for the non-PAP (control) diet The lower welfare scores for the PAP diets shown in Charts 1 - 3 illustrate the better welfare performance of the PAP diets compared to the control.

Chart 3: Mortality (Poultry Innovation Lab Aeres)

Processed Animal Proteins are able to lower the carbon footprint of animal feed while improving welfare in layers – Jeffrey de Rooij

Comparisons of results in practice (field tests) compared a non-PAP feed with one containing 3,5% PAP in hens aged between 53 to 85 weeks old. While there was no difference in production parameters, as in the lab test, the mortality rate was 50% less in the PAP fed group as illustrated in Chart 4.

Chart 4: Mortality Rate (Poultry Field Tests)

Customer feedback on use of porcine PAP in poultry diets

Poultry producer Jeffrey de Rooij reported the following positive elements from PAP based diets:

  • Lower water intake, which gave lower faecal moisture and better litter quality

  • Lower feed intake; possibly indicating a better fulfilment of animal requirements

  • Reduced mortality and better behavioural aspects; potentially indicating less cannibalism

  • Reduced use of feed additives supporting gut health

Based on the results he stated that production parameters can be maintained with a PAP inclusion in diets and gives benefits in reduced mortality, less cannibalism and a better feather quality. It is assumed that this is based on improved gut health.

Performance of poultry PAP in porcine feed

  • Higher acceptance and growth compared to soy-based feed

  • Improved health and behaviour

At the Teaching and Experimental Farm Köllitsch, 592 piglets consumed feed containing with poultry and fish meal in four consecutive experimental runs in two breeding units. Researchers weighed each piglet at the start, day 7 and day 35. Test feed was supplied for four weeks after day 7.

The trial compared feed of 14% HP soy (44% XP) to 10% poultry meal (65% XP) and 4% grain (2% wheat & 2% barley), both types of feed had the same energy and lysine content.

The comparison of the poultry PAP and soy control feeds found no significant difference in the daily weight gain and only a slight increase in poultry feed uptake. 

The researcher observed that the piglets accepted the poultry PAP more easily, probably because the piglets favour the “Umami” taste of the poultry PAP.

Higher feed intake of the piglets of the poultry PAP group led to better physical development and health. Poultry PAP fed piglets developed significantly less diarrhoea which illustrates increased gut health.

In their subjective rating the researchers found reduced noise and aggressiveness of piglets with restless behaviour occurring half as often as in the control group.

It is assumed that better gut health and therefore a better immune system positively reduced inflammation which otherwise would lead to these aggressions.

Researchers concluded that poultry meal is a highly valuable protein resource and led to higher feed acceptance and growth, less diarrhoea and a positive (quieter) behaviour (less tail biting and necroses). These factors play an important role in animal welfare and raising pigs with intact tails.