This study describes the potential of nutrient recovery from animal wastes in integrated animal feeding systems. The philosophy behind feeding processed animal wastes is based on the fact that coprophagy within the same or other animal species has always existed in nature. The nutritive value of individual animal wastes, with and without various bedding materials, is described in detail.

Individual classes of livestock, levels of nutrition, housing, management, environment and other factors that play a significant role in the chemical and nutritive value of animal wastes are examined.

Health hazards and safety considerations are discussed in the light of the presence of accumulations of minerals, antimicrobial drugs, pesticides, mycotoxins and hormonal residues, the danger of disease transmission, and problems associated with other xenobiotics that may affect the performance and health of animals fed waste-based rations. The human consumption of products derived from waste-fed animals is also envisaged from the health and safety standpoint.

Numerous processing methods, technologies and systems (including dehydration, ensiling, chemical and mechanical treatments, composting, biodegradation via insect and earthworm cultures, and other complex recycling systems) are described and evaluated with respect to their development status, reliability, applicability and other considerations.

Industrial processes involving the conversion of animal wastes into protein biomass by aerobic, anaerobic, thermophilic and other processes are described briefly. A separate chapter is devoted to the photosynthetic recovery of nutrients by higher and lower plants (water hyacinth, Lemnacae, algae and others).

The most recent results of feeding cattle waste to livestock are presented. Recent advances in feeding pig waste to pigs and other livestock species are documented. The latest developments in feeding animal wastes to fish are described briefly in terms of their integration with other livestock activities.