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Feather meal
Feather meal or Feather powder, is a byproduct of processing poultry; it is made from poultry feathers by partially grinding them under elevated heat and pressure, and then grinding and drying. Although total nitrogen levels are fairly high (up to 12%), the bioavailability of this nitrogen may be low if not hydrolyzed beforehand. Feather meal is used in formulated animal feed and in organic fertilizer.
Worldwide, approximately 50 billion chickens were used for human consumption in 2014. The feather from poultry slaughtering is traditionally treated as waste, with carbon emissions associated with its disposal. Reusing feather meal produces extra value while reducing carbon emissions.
When used as animal feed, the indigestible keratin must be broken down (partially hydrolyzed) to become digestible for animals. One process for doing this is called rendering: steam pressure cookers with temperatures over 140 °C (284 °F) are used to "cook" and sterilize the feathers. It is then dried, cooled and ground into a powder for use as a protein source for animal feed (mostly ruminants and fish).
There are many other ways to achieve hydrolysis such as acid treatment, fermentation, and enzyme-processing.
Feather meal contains a large amount of nitrogen (15%) and sulfur (2.4%). It is rich in plant micronutrients such as iron and zinc. Being neither synthetic or petroleum-based, it is considered an organic fertilizer.
Native (non-hydrolyzed) feather meal is a semi slow-release fertilizer. The nitrogen is slowly released through decomposition by soil microbes. It is not water-soluble and hence does not make a good liquid fertilizer. When adding it to a garden as a nitrogen source, it must be blended into the soil to start the decomposition to make the nitrogenous compounds available to the plants.
Hydrolyzed feather meal releases nitrogen quickly.
Being high-nitrogen fertilizers, both types of feather meal are useful for increasing the growth of green leaves. Both are also good for encouraging the growth of microbes, improving soil structure, and activating the composting process.
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Feather meal
Feather meal or Feather powder, is a byproduct of processing poultry; it is made from poultry feathers by partially grinding them under elevated heat and pressure, and then grinding and drying. Although total nitrogen levels are fairly high (up to 12%), the bioavailability of this nitrogen may be low if not hydrolyzed beforehand. Feather meal is used in formulated animal feed and in organic fertilizer.
Worldwide, approximately 50 billion chickens were used for human consumption in 2014. The feather from poultry slaughtering is traditionally treated as waste, with carbon emissions associated with its disposal. Reusing feather meal produces extra value while reducing carbon emissions.
When used as animal feed, the indigestible keratin must be broken down (partially hydrolyzed) to become digestible for animals. One process for doing this is called rendering: steam pressure cookers with temperatures over 140 °C (284 °F) are used to "cook" and sterilize the feathers. It is then dried, cooled and ground into a powder for use as a protein source for animal feed (mostly ruminants and fish).
There are many other ways to achieve hydrolysis such as acid treatment, fermentation, and enzyme-processing.
Feather meal contains a large amount of nitrogen (15%) and sulfur (2.4%). It is rich in plant micronutrients such as iron and zinc. Being neither synthetic or petroleum-based, it is considered an organic fertilizer.
Native (non-hydrolyzed) feather meal is a semi slow-release fertilizer. The nitrogen is slowly released through decomposition by soil microbes. It is not water-soluble and hence does not make a good liquid fertilizer. When adding it to a garden as a nitrogen source, it must be blended into the soil to start the decomposition to make the nitrogenous compounds available to the plants.
Hydrolyzed feather meal releases nitrogen quickly.
Being high-nitrogen fertilizers, both types of feather meal are useful for increasing the growth of green leaves. Both are also good for encouraging the growth of microbes, improving soil structure, and activating the composting process.