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Low Nutritional Value of Feather-Meal Protein for Chicks^1,2,

Division of Animal Nutrition, ARO, The Volcani Center, 50250 Bet Dagan, Israel

Ileal absorption of nitrogen was determined for feather meal (FM) samples, using magnesium ferrite as a marker. Diets containing 15% FM were balanced by linear programming, using two nitrogen absorption values for FM: 55%, as found; or 85%, an average value for standard feeds. When nitrogen absorption of FM was calculated as 55%, the growth of chicks from one to three weeks of age was similar to that of the control chicks. Depression of growth occurred when the diet compostion was calculated using 85% nitrogen absorption for FM. The official method of pepsin digestibility in vitro, using 0.2% pepsin, did not reflect the nutritive value of FM protein. Results similar to those of nitrogen absorption in vivo were obtained with 0.002% pepsin. The total cystine content of FM and the rate of its liberation by pancreatin may also serve as an indication of the nutritive value of FM protein.

KEY WORDS: • feather meal • nitrogen absorption

¹ Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, 1980 series, number 348-E.

² Supported in part by the Egg and Poultry Marketing Board of Israel.

Manuscript received 3 August 1981.