Feather Keratin Bio-hydrolysates' Incorporation in Poultry Feed: Microbiolological Processing of Feather Keratin and Its Incorporation in Poultry Feed

Facilitated recycling of natural materials which are generated in large amounts is need of the day for both environmental management as well as resource utilization. The latter aspect may reduce cost of certain products. In this work conversion of stable feather protein into soluble protein and amino acids with the help of keratinolytic bacteria was attempted. The bacterially attacked keratin with additional amino acids produced by the employed bacteria rendered the protein hydrolysate a good protein source for the chick feed. In the hydrolysates many non-constitutional amino acids, including some essential ones, made the reported bacteria promising biotechnological agents for raising high quality protein source for the chick feed from the waste of the same industry. The reported strategy is likely to add to the economics of poultry industry and replace incorporation of fish meal in the commercial chick feed.