Resumen de NR 26. Enhancing protein utilization from feather meal

Alexis Ferrer, F. M. Byers, Betsaida Sulbaran de Ferrer, B. E. Dale

• The objective of this work was to develop novel ammonia reactor processing conditions to treat feather meal which will extend the use of feather meal protein products for animal feeding. Liquid anhydrous ammonia was added to 60 g-samples and temperature was rapidly elevated to the desired temperature. After desired treatment time, pressure was suddenly released and samples allowed to air-dry overnight. In situ ruminal solubility (one minute in the rumen) and digestibility (3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h in the rumen) were determined by the dacron satchel method using a cannulated steer. Kjeldahl was used for crude protein determination. Feather meal had 10 % moisture content (w.b.), 88 % crude protein, 1.4 % crude fat and 6.2 % ash. Protein solubility greatly increased (7 to 23 %) with PDA for 50% moisture-samples compared to the control (P