A team of scientists from the National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Iran has pioneered a technology that transforms poultry feathers—typically regarded as waste—into a valuable meal using a specific Bacillus strain.
Challenges of Poultry Waste Management
Feathers account for approximately 5% of the total weight of poultry, representing a significant waste stream within the industry. Amir Maimandipour, a key researcher involved in the project, highlights the challenge of managing this increasing volume of waste as the poultry industry expands in Iran.
Expansion of Iran’s Poultry Sector
The Iranian poultry industry is experiencing notable growth, with production levels surging to 223,000 tonnes monthly as of 2024, allowing the nation to resume its position as a net exporter, primarily to Iraq. Maimandipour emphasizes that this growth necessitates effective waste management strategies to convert byproducts into more valuable products.
Currently, poultry feathers are sometimes utilized as low-nutritional feed protein in the livestock sector, but they are mainly classified as waste. The newly developed technology promises to enhance existing feeding practices significantly.
Innovative Solutions for Feather Processing
The primary barrier to utilizing feathers in animal feed stems from the high keratin content within feathers—a fibrous structural protein that also constitutes skin, hair, nails, and horns. This insoluble protein is notoriously difficult to digest due to the numerous disulfide bonds within its structure, as Maimandipour explains.
However, keratin is not without value beyond animal feed. Keratinases—enzymes that can break down keratin—have been isolated from various microorganisms, including fungi, certain bacteria, and Streptomyces. These enzymes have found applications in wastewater treatment and in industries ranging from food to cosmetics, according to Maimandipour.
The researchers successfully isolated the gene responsible for producing keratinase from a native bacterial strain and expressed it in a laboratory setting to explore its enzymatic properties. This innovative approach allows for either direct application of the bacterial strain for enzyme production or use in conjunction with feather waste harvested from slaughterhouses, facilitating a more efficient conversion process.
While researchers are optimistic that feather meal could significantly enhance animal diets, further investigation is crucial to validate its effectiveness.
