Nutritive Value of Keratin

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Abstract
Finely powdered keratins have been studied as possible protein sources for growing rats and chicks. When chicks or rats were fed purified rations which contained 30–40% of powdered hoofs, substantial growth was obtained. High levels of powdered hog hair in chick rations allowed moderate growth but usually produced an encephalomalacia unless sources of vitamin E were present. Powdered chicken feathers allowed only poor growth. In general, the rates of growth obtained with chicks and rats fed rations containing these keratins show a positive correlation with the degree of subdivision of the keratin. The use of a ball mill for grinding the keratin was not as effective a method as one in which heating was prevented. When the lower levels of powdered hoofs were supplemented with lysine, tryptophane, methionine, and histidine, good growth was obtained.

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