The Utilization of Hydrolyzed Feather Meal by Growing Chicks

Abstract

CONSIDERABLE interest has been shown in the use of hydrolyzed feather meal in poultry rations. Romoser (1955) stated that at least 2.5% of feather meal may be added to a broiler ration to supply part of the protein providing that there is an adequate level of all essential amino acids; this suggests that feather meal may be a satisfactory source of “non-specific” nitrogen for the chick. The report also indicated that feather meal may contain an unidentified growth factor.Wilder et al. (1955) reported that feather meal was a satisfactory feed ingredient when used to supply 2.4% of protein in diets containing an equal amount of protein supplied by meat and bone scrap. Gerry (1956) found that feather meal could replace all the animal protein and/or some of the soybean oil meal protein in broiler rations while Sullivan and Stephenson (1957) found the material to be a satisfactory partial replacement …