Poultry Farming Research Reveals Potential of Feathers as Dietary Ingredient

Strategic Insights -

Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) in Iran has conducted a study to determine the best level of hydrolysed feather powder inclusion in broilers diet. The research found that feathers can be a valuable dietary ingredient, decreasing competition between humans and poultry for corn and soybeans. The study used a completely randomised design with 4 treatments, 5 replicates, and 25 chicks per replicate, and lasted for 42 days. The researchers concluded that hydrolysed feather at the level of 3% had the highest closeness coefficient, while hydrolysed feather at the level of 9% had the lowest. This discovery has significant implications for the circular feed economy and poultry farming industry.

Key Takeaways:

  • Feathers constitute about 5-7% of broilers live body weight, and they are bulky waste in poultry slaughterhouses, posing a significant environmental pollution risk.
  • Poultry feathers can be considered as a dietary ingredient to decrease competition between humans and poultry in consuming corn and soybeans.
  • The study used a total of 500 Arian broiler chicks in a completely randomised design with 4 treatments, 5 replicates, and 25 chicks per replicate.
  • Experimental treatments included four levels of hydrolysed feather powder as 0, 3, 6, or 9% of the diet.
  • The researchers used multiple attribute decision making (MADM) and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to determine the best level of hydrolysed feather powder inclusion.
  • Hydrolysed feather at the level of 3% had the highest closeness coefficient (0.8038), while hydrolysed feather at the level of 9% had the lowest closeness coefficient (0.7364).
  • The researchers concluded that hydrolysed feather can be considered as a protein source in broilers diet that is not used as food for humans.
  • The study recommends using 3% hydrolysed feather in the broilers diet.

Statistics:

  • 5-7%: Feathers constitute this percentage of broilers live body weight.
  • 0, 3, 6, or 9%: Four levels of hydrolysed feather powder inclusion in the broilers diet.
  • 500: Total number of Arian broiler chicks used in the study.
  • 42: Duration of the experiment in days.
  • 0.8038: Highest closeness coefficient obtained by hydrolysed feather at the level of 3%.
  • 0.7364: Lowest closeness coefficient obtained by hydrolysed feather at the level of 9%.

Sources:

  • Using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution to Determine the Best Level of Hydrolysed Feather Powder in Broilers Diet. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 2025;11(4).
  • NewsRx. Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) Reports Findings in Poultry Farming (Using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution to Determine the Best Level of Hydrolysed Feather Powder in ...). Agriculture Week. July 31, 2025; p 1.