Microbial Hydrolysed Feather Protein as a Source of Amino Acids and Protein in the Diets of Animals Including Poultry

Abstract

Feathers are hard waste products, mainly composed of hard β-keratin, and are produced in large quantities in commercial poultry processing plants. Therefore, their industrial utilization is important economically as well as environmentally. Feathers degradation through keratinolytic microorganisms has been considered as an important method for efficient bioconversion, nutritional enhancement and eco-friendliness. The use of crude keratinase significantly increased the amino acid digestibility of raw feathers and commercial feather meal. This enzyme increased the digestibility of commercial feather meal and could replace as much as 7% of the dietary protein for growing chicks. However, feathers are currently utilized on a limited basis as a dietary protein supplement for animal feed because feather meal production is an expensive process, requiring significant amounts of energy. This review paper explains the nutritive value of feathers which makes suitable and inexpensive animal and poultry feed.