Nduka Okafor wrote:
> I note that you intend to crush bones and add them to the compost. Is that not
> wasteful? Since the compost is to be used by plants, is the intention to supply
> calcium to plants? Is there any evidence that the soil where the compost will
> be used lacks calcium? I would rather have thought that you would add the
> crushed bones in poultry feed to provide calcium to enable the birds produce
> well-formed shells.

Much of the soil in eastern Indonesia is deficient in calcium. Bones provide calcium, phosphorus and some nitrogen to soil. Many of the bones will find their way into the marketplace for soup, but some bones such as skulls are difficult to sell and need to be recycled. Wet crushed bones in poultry feed will cause poultry ration palateability to decrease, and reliable drying of the bones will be somewhat difficult and inclined to cause odour.

Dr.Simon E.F. Appleby B.V.Sc., M.V.St.
Managing Director
Pacific Rim Livestock Services Pty Ltd
ACN 081 076 566

2 Robert Court, East Rosanna, Victoria 3084, AUSTRALIA
Ph/Fax: (61)3 9658 4170 Mobile: (61) 419 599 238
email: prls@bigpond.com

BALI OFFICE
Jl. Tunggul Ametung IV/15, Denpasar, (P.O. Box 19, Nusa Dua), Bali, INDONESIA
Mobile: (62) 816 613 092    EMAIL: ppk@indo.net.id

JAKARTA OFFICE
c/o PT Intermas Pacific, Kebun Jeruk Plaza, Blok B3-4, C3-4, Jl. Perjuangan, Kedoya, Jakarta Barat, INDONESIA