Enhancing Poultry Waste Composting through Paddy Straw and Effective Microorganisms: Microbial and Parasitological Responses

Abstract

Poultry carcasses and litter require safe disposal methods to reduce environmental contamination and biosecurity risks in poultry production systems. This study evaluated the influence of paddy straw and effective microorganisms on microbial, parasitological, and thermal changes during the composting of poultry carcasses and poultry litter under winter and summer conditions. Four treatment groups were assessed: poultry carcasses with poultry litter as the control, poultry carcasses with poultry litter and paddy straw, poultry carcasses with poultry litter and effective microorganisms, and poultry carcasses with poultry litter, paddy straw, and effective microorganisms. Each treatment was replicated four times. Compost samples were examined at the initial, primary, and secondary stages for coliform count, total viable count, and parasitic egg or larval load. Compost temperature was also monitored during the process. Coliform count and total viable count declined progressively from the initial stage to the secondary stage in all treatments during both seasons. At the secondary stage, coliform counts ranged from 2.08 to 2.41 log10 cfu/g in winter and from 2.00 to 2.58 log10 cfu/g in summer. Total viable counts at the secondary stage ranged from 4.91 to 5.83 log10 cfu/g in winter and from 3.50 to 4.80 log10 cfu/g in summer. Parasitic load decreased from severe levels at the initial stage to non-detectable levels in most treatments by the secondary stage. The highest primary-stage temperatures were recorded in the treatment containing both paddy straw and effective microorganisms, with values of 59.0°C in winter and 59.5°C in summer. The findings indicate that composting can reduce microbial and parasitic contamination in poultry waste, while paddy straw and effective microorganisms may improve temperature development and composting performance.