Utilization of waste chicken feathers as ruminant feed

Abstract

Sari EP, Putri IST, Putri RA, Imanda S, Elfidasari D, Puspitasari RL. 2015. Utilization of waste chicken feathers as
ruminant feed Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1 (1): 136-138. The growing food demand, as the human population is on the rise,
consequently increases waste from the food industry, i.e. chicken feathers. Waste chicken feathers deliver negative impact on human
health and cause soil pollution due to its very slow degradation. Currently, waste chicken feathers are utilized limitedly in handicraft
manufacture. In addition, the waste is often used as cattle fodder (ruminants). Protein (keratins) content in the waste is higher than that
of soybean. The keratins can not be absorbed directly in the digestive system, therefore some processing techniques are required to make
it more absorbable. Processing techniques can be done physically, chemically (acid and base treatment), and biologically (fermentation
by microorganisms). All processing techniques variously increased the digestibility of protein and dry weight of Chicken Feathers
Hydrolyzate (CFH). Physically processing increased protein digestibility about 76%, acid treatment increased dry weight digestibility
about 59.83%, base treatment increased digestibility of dry weight about 64.6%, and fermentation technique increased protein
digestibility about 54.20%. Fermentation using soil fungal isolates Penicillium sp. increased digestibility of dry weight about 31.84%
and protein 28.89%.