Feather Diet Research Articles

Growth and survivability of the black carpet beetle fed a whole feather diet

AbstractKeratin waste has become a significant side effect of meat production and processing that needs urgent addressing. In this study, we explore the potential of the black carpet beetle as one of the few species known to metabolize feather keratin. Rearing larvae on raw feathers revealed an increased mortality but no significant differences in the number of larval moults compared with the control diet, although growth was stunted. At the end of the study, up to 42% of the original feather mass was consumed by the larvae, with approximate digestibility varying between 68%–89%. Gut enzyme analysis confirmed keratinolytic activity in the larval digestive tract. Furthermore, protein content in larvae reared on a feather diet surpassed control‐fed larvae in overall protein content (0.790 mg/ml vs. 0.628 mg/ml per 1 mg of live larval weight). Our study demonstrated the black carpet beetle as a promising biological fermenter for sustainably converting feather protein into insect protein.

PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTATIONS ON THE IN VITRO REARING OF HEMATOPHAGOUS PIGEON LOUSE HOHORSTIELLA LATA (AMBLYCERA: PHTHIRAPTERA: INSECTA).

Rearing hematophagous amblyceran lice in vitro is a challenging task. The hematophagous nature and active habits of amblycerans are distinct hurdles to in vitro rearing. The literature indicates only limited success in rearing the hematophagous amblyceran avian louse. Herein we report on the results of in vitro experimentation on an amblyceran pigeon louse, Hohorstiella lata. The incubation period of eggs was 5.47 ± 0.52 days. The durations of first, second, and third nymphal instars were 5.14 ± 0.55, 5.65 ± 0.83, and 6.35 ± 0.82 days, respectively. The average lifespan of adult females (7.45 ± 5.88 days) was higher than adult males (4.61 ± 3.57 days). Adult females laid a lifetime average of 3.73 eggs at a rate of 0.45 eggs/female/day under in vitro conditions (35 ± 1 C, 75-82% relative humidity, feather diet).

Intrinsic rate of natural increase of an isochnoceran louse Goniocotes jirufti (Ansari, 1947) (Phthiraptera: Insecta)

The ischnoceran lice, Goniocotes jirufti (Ansari, 1947) infesting the black partridge, Francolinus francolinus were reared in vitro condition (35 ± 1°C, 75-82% RH, at feather diet), to record the incubation period, adult longevity and daily egg rate. The data obtained from in vitro experimentation were used to construct the life table and to determine the intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm). The value of rm of aforesaid species was computed as 0.042. At this rate the doubling time of its population appeared to be 16.50 days. In comparison to the other species studied so far, G. jirufti seems to breed moderately.

In vitro biology of pigeon louse Colpocephalum turbinatum (Amblycera: Phthiraptera)

In vitro rearing of amblyceran Phthiraptera is a challenging task. A look on the literature reveals that negligible information exists on the in vitro bionomics of avian Amblycera. Present report furnishes information on the in vitro biology of an amblyceran louse, Colpocephalum turbinatum, reared at 35 ± 1?C, 75-82% Relative Humidity, at feather diet. The incubation period of the eggs of louse was determined as 5.37±0.67 days. The duration of first, second and third nymphal instars remained 5.04±0.65, 5.12±0.89 and 5.0±0.57 days, respectively. The longevity of adult female (13.04 ± 3.67 days) was comparatively longer than that of males (9.6±2.87 days). An adult female laid an average of 0.63 egg/day in vitro condition (35±1oC and 75-82% RH, at feather diet).

A randomized, double-blinded crossover trial testing the benefit of two hydrolysed poultry-based commercial diets for dogs with spontaneous pruritic chicken allergy.

Hydrolysed protein diets are used to diagnose and treat dogs with cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFR). Little is known about what proportion of dogs hypersensitive to the native protein would react to its hydrolysed form. To determine the clinical allergenicity of hydrolysed poultry feather (RCU) and chicken liver diets (HZD) in dogs with chicken induced CAFR. In this randomized, double-blinded, crossover trial, ten dogs with chicken induced CAFR were selected after a positive oral challenge to chicken meat and a negative one to corn. Test diets were fed for 14days separated by a 14 day wash-out period. Owners rated pruritus daily with a Visual Analog Scale (PVAS). The challenge was ended if a flare in pruritus occurred (i.e. PVAS ≥5/10). The median PVAS scores before feeding RCU and HZD were 0.9 and 1.7, respectively (Wilcoxon signed rank test, P=0.46). Pruritus scores increased significantly after feeding HZD (Friedman's test, P<0.001) but not after feeding RCU (P=0.895). None of the dogs fed RCU, but four dogs fed HZD (40%), were withdrawn after a flare in pruritus developed (Fisher's test, P=0.04). The maximal PVAS score was significantly higher after HZD (median: 4.7) compared to RCU (2.5) (Wilcoxon signed rank test, P=0.01). One dog in each group was withdrawn due to diarrhoea. The hydrolysed poultry feather diet did not induce pruritus flares in dogs allergic to chicken in contrast to the hydrolysed chicken liver diet that led to pruritus flares in 40% of these dogs.

Dietary inclusion of feathers affects intestinal microbiota and microbial metabolites in growing Leghorn-type chickens

Feather pecking in laying hens is a serious behavioral problem that is often associated with feather eating. The intake of feathers may influence the gut microbiota and its metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 2 different diets, with or without 5% ground feathers, on the gut microbiota and the resulting microbial fermentation products and to identify keratin-degrading bacteria in chicken digesta. One-day-old Lohmann-Selected Leghorn chicks were divided into 3 feeding groups: group A (control), B (5% ground feathers in the diet), and C, in which the control diet was fed until wk 12 and then switched to the 5% feather diet to study the effect of time of first feather ingestion. The gut microbiota was analyzed by cultivation and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of ileum and cecum digesta. Short-chain fatty acids, ammonia, and lactate concentrations were measured as microbial metabolites. The concentration of keratinolytic bacteria increased after feather ingestion in the ileum (P < 0.001) and cecum (P = 0.033). Bacterial species that hydrolyzed keratin were identified as Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus reuteri-like species (97% sequence homology), and Lactobacillus salivarius-like species (97% sequence homology). Molecular analysis of cecal DNA extracts showed that the feather diet lowered the bacterial diversity indicated by a reduced richness (P < 0.001) and shannon (P = 0.012) index. The pattern of microbial metabolites indicated some changes, especially in the cecum. This study showed that feather intake induced an adaptation of the intestinal microbiota in chickens. It remains unclear to what extent the changed metabolism of the microbiota reflects the feather intake and could have an effect on the behavior of the hens.

Bio-Ecology of the Louse,Upupicola upupae, Infesting the Common Hoopoe,Upupa epops

The population characteristics of the louse, Upupicola upupae (Shrank) (Mallophaga: Philopteridae: Ishnocera), infesting the Common Hoopae, Upupa epops L. (Aves: Upupiformes), were recorded during 2007–08 in District Rampur, Uttar Pradesh India. The pattern of frequency distribution of the louse conformed to the negative binomial model. The lice and its nits were reared in vitro at 35 ± 1° C, 75–82 % RH, on a feather diet. The data obtained was used to construct the life table and to determine the intrinsic rate of natural increase (0.035 female/day), the net reproductive rate was 3.67 female eggs/female, the generation time was 37 days, and the doubling time of the population was 19 days. The chaetotaxy of the three nymphal instars has also been noted to record their diagnostic characteristics. Information on egg morphology and antennal sensilla is also presented.

Intrinsic Rate of Natural Increase of Five Species of Ischnoceran Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from India

ABSTRACT: Five ischnoceran lice (Brueelia cyclothorax, Sturnidoecus hannoo, Neopsittaconirmus elbeli, Columbicola columbae and Anaticola crassicornis) infesting the house sparrow, common myna, Indian parakeet, domestic pigeon and mallard duck, were reared in vitro conditions (35 ± 1°C, 75–82% RH, at a feather diet), to record the incubation period, adult longevity and daily egg rate. The data obtained were used to construct the life table and to determine the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r). The values of r of aforesaid species were 0.032, 0.049, 0.050, 0.053 and 0.074 female per day, respectively. Likewise, the doubling time of the population differed, as follows, 21.35, 14.21, 13.93, 14.2 and 9.01 days, respectively. The results indicate that reproductive potentials of different phthirapteran species exhibit considerable variation.

Intrinsic rate of natural increase of Brueelia amandavae (Ischnocera, Phthiraptera) populations infesting Indian red avadavat

The incubation period of eggs, duration of three nymphal instars, adult longevity and the daily egg-deposition rate of the ischnoceran Phthiraptera, Brueelia amandavae, were determined by rearing the louse in vitro (35 ± 1°C, 75–82% RH, feather diet). The data obtained were utilized for life table construction and determination of the intrinsic rate of natural increase (0.031 per day) and the doubling time (23.45 days) of the louse population. The doubling time of the louse in in vivo experiments was 21.5 days.

Extrusion Processing Used to Convert Dead Poultry, Feathers, Eggshells, Hatchery Waste, and Mechanically Deboned Residue into Feedstuffs for Poultry

In Experiments 1 and 2, dead broilers (3 and 5 wk old) and dead turkeys (6 and 12 wk old), and broiler feathers were obtained from commercial sources and evaluated for nutritional contribution when co-extruded with soybean meal (48% CP). Samples of each age of dead birds and two feather treatments, with and without 5.13% proteolytic enzyme premix (INSTA-PRO®), were blended with soybean meal in an 25:75 ratio (wt/wt, wet basis) and processed through an INSTA-PRO® extruder. The resulting six extruded products were used in formulating isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets and were compared with a diet containing corn-soybean meal or corn-soybean meal with commercial feather meal when fed to broilers from 1 to 21 days of age. In Experiment 1, feeding diets containing dead broilers supported higher (P ≤ .05) body weight than those receiving the corn-soybean meal control diet. There was no difference (P > .05) in feed conversion. Enzyme treatment of the feathers improved growth rate but not feed conversion over the untreated feather diet in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, dead poultry and enzyme-treated feather extruded products were good feed ingredients for broilers with feed efficiency and growth responses comparable to the corn-soybean meal control diet.In Experiments 3 and 4, centrifuged eggshells from egg-breaking plants (Source A or B), centrifuged hatchery solid (Source C or D), centrifuged hatchery solid plus liquid (Source C or D), and mechanically deboned turkey frame residue were each blended with ground corn to produce mixtures with 15 to 25% moisture and processed through an INSTA-PRO® extruder. Two experiments involving 480 Hy-Line® 36 laying hens were conducted for three 28-day periods to evaluate hen performance and egg quality when the extruded products were incorporated into the diet. No differences were found (P < .05) in egg production, egg weight, feed conversion, and egg specific gravity for all diets.The microbiological test (total aerobic count) indicated that the pre-extrusion blended mixtures had significant numbers of colony-forming units per gram of sample. The extruded products that exited from the extruder barrel were free of aerobic microorganisms. The results of these studies indicated that high temperature-short time extrusion is an alternative method for converting these poultry industry residues into feedstuffs.