Feather and Hair Meals for Ruminants. IV. Effects of Chemical Treatments of Feathers and Processing Time on Digestibility

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Abstract
Chicken feathers were treated with various concentrations of NaOH or H3PO4 and then steam processed in a laboratory autoclave. In vitro pepsin digestibility (IVPD) of laboratory hydrolyzed feather meal (FM) increased (P<.05) as processing time and as NaOH (P<.005) or H3PO4 (P<.05) concentration increased. There was an interaction (P<.05) between chemical treatment and processing time. Crude protein (CP) levels of FM decreased (P<.01) as chemical concentration increased, but they were not affected by processing time. In vitro dry matter digestion (IVDMD) of a cellulose substrate increased (P<.05) as chemical concentration on feathers increased. A steam pressure vessel was designed and used to process FM for a sheep digestion trial. The FM made from feathers treated with .25% NaOH or .25% H3PO4 was compared with cottonseed meal (CSM). Treatment with NaOH increased (P<.05) IVPD and IVDMD as compared with no treatment or treatment with H3PO4. Data from the in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that NaOH could be effective in reducing processing time required at normal steam pressures. The H3PO4 was less effective and much higher concentrations were required to produce IVPD similar to that produced with the use of NaOH. Copyright © 1983. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1983 by American Society of Animal Science.

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