Poultry By-Products Show Promise as Sustainable Protein Sources in Pet Foods

Strategic Insights -

Research from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover in Germany has investigated the potential of poultry by-products, particularly feather meal, as sustainable protein sources for pet foods. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of feather meals differing in processing and origin on nutrient digestibility and fecal quality in dogs. The findings suggest that feather meal can be a viable alternative to traditional protein sources, with no significant differences in fecal quality scores observed between the two diets. However, the second trial showed a significantly lower apparent organic matter digestibility of one of the feather meals compared to the other.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study evaluated the impact of feather meals on nutrient digestibility and fecal quality in dogs, with six dogs participating in a crossover experimental design.
  • The feather meals used in the study were premium and economy, differing in processing and origin, with the premium feather meal containing a mixture of poultry feathers and the economy feather meal consisting of broiler feathers.
  • The study found that the origin of the feathers did not significantly affect the nutritional digestibility or fecal characteristics of the dogs.
  • The second trial showed a significantly lower apparent organic matter digestibility of one of the feather meals compared to the other.
  • Lisa Brands of the Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, was the corresponding author of the study.
  • Additional authors of the study include Cristina Ullrich, Volker Wilke, Christian Visscher, Josef Kamphues, and Amr Abd El-Wahab.
  • The study was published in the journal Animals, with the article titled "Effects of Poultry By-Product Composition and Processing on Nutrient Digestibility and Fecal Characteristics of High-Protein Dry Dog Food."

Statistics:

  • Six dogs participated in the study.
  • The feather meals used in the study were premium and economy, with the premium meat containing a mixture of poultry feathers and the economy meal consisting of broiler feathers.
  • The study found that the origin of the feathers did not significantly affect the nutritional digestibility or fecal characteristics of the dogs (apparent organic matter digestibility 92.1 ± 4.6% and 91.4 ± 4.3% for premium and economy feather meals, respectively).
  • The second trial showed a significantly lower apparent organic matter digestibility of one of the feather meals compared to the other (67.2 ± 10.5% compared to 84.5 ± 10.3%).

Sources:

  • Effects of Poultry By-Product Composition and Processing on Nutrient Digestibility and Fecal Characteristics of High-Protein Dry Dog Food. Animals, 2025,15(18):2693. (Animals - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals/).
  • NewsRx. Studies from University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Further Understanding of Poultry Farming (Effects of Poultry By-Product Composition and Processing on Nutrient Digestibility and Fecal Characteristics of High-Protein Dry Dog Food). Agriculture Week. October 16, 2025; p 775.