This study investigated the effects of feather meal (FM) processing methods on production parameters, blood biochemical indices, intestinal morphology, digestive and hepatic enzyme activities, and gastrointestinal tract pH and microflora of broilers. A total of 480-day-old male broilers were used for 42 days in a completely randomized design with eight treatments and five replicates (12 chicks/replicate). Treatments were: (1) A control diet (without FM), (2) Diet containing 4% raw FM (RFM), (3) Diet containing 4% processed feather meal (PFM) by autoclave (Au-PFM), (4) Diet containing 4% fermented FM (FFM) by Bacillus licheniformis (Bl-FFM), (5) Diet containing 4% FFM by Bacillus subtilis (Bs-FFM), (6) Diet containing 4% FFM by Aspergillus niger (An-FFM), (7) Diet containing 4% FFM by B. licheniformis+B. subtilis+A. niger (Co-FFM), and (8) Diet containing 4% PFM by an enzyme (En-PFM). Results showed that in the FFMs the contents of ash, ether extract, total volatile nitrogen, and amino acids including Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, His, Leu, Gly, Ile, Phe, and Tyr increased (P < 0.05), while crude fiber, crude protein, and dry matter content decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control, the Co-FFM diet had no significant differences (P > 0.05) in total body weight gain (2,827 vs. 2,791 g/chick), total feed intake (5,018 vs. 4,991 g/chick), European production efficiency factor (375 vs. 377), European broiler index (371 vs. 371), and feed conversion ratio (1.77 vs. 1.78 g/g). Feeding FFM decreased (P < 0.05) serum total cholesterol (1.46-fold), triglyceride (1.61-fold), VLDL-C (1.61-fold), and LDL-C (2.27-fold) compared to the control. Also, FFM increased (P < 0.05) villus height (1,045 to 1,351, 661 to 854, and 523 to 620 μm), and villus height to crypt depth ratio (6.15 to 8.45, 4.55 to 7.04, and 4.27 to 5.45), in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum respectively compared to the control. Compared to the control, the Co-FFM diet increased (P < 0.05) protease (34, 39, and 45 %) in the pancreas, duodenum, and jejunum, as well as amylase (73, and 97 %) activities in the duodenum, and jejunum respectively. Diets containing FFM reduced (P < 0.05) pH in the crop, gizzard, and ileum, and decreased (P < 0.05) Escherichia coli (6.12 to 5.70) count in ileum compared with the control. The Co-FFM diet increased (P < 0.05) lactic acid bacteria count in crop (6.77 to 7.50) and ileum (6.94 to 7.73), also decreased (P < 0.05) coliforms (6.31 to 5.75) count in ileum compared to the control. In conclusion, FM fermentation, particularly Co-FFM, improves the nutritional value of FM, converting it into a decent source of dietary protein for broilers.

中文翻译：

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羽毛粉加工方法影响肉鸡的生产参数、血液生化指标、肠道功能和肝酶活性

本研究探讨了羽毛粉（FM）加工方法对肉鸡生产参数、血液生化指标、肠道形态、消化酶和肝酶活性、胃肠道pH值和微生物群落的影响。总共使用 480 日龄的雄性肉鸡，进行 42 天的完全随机设计，进行 8 次处理和 5 次重复（12 只雏鸡/重复）。处理为：(1) 对照饮食（不含 FM），(2) 含有 4% 生 FM (RFM) 的饮食，(3) 含有 4% 经高压灭菌处理的羽毛粉 (PFM) 的饮食 (Au-PFM)，(4 ) 含有 4% 地衣芽孢杆菌 (Bl-FFM) 发酵 FM (FFM) 的饮食，(5) 含有枯草芽孢杆菌 (Bs-FFM) 4% FFM 的饮食，(6) 含有黑曲霉 (An-FFM) 4% FFM 的饮食FFM)，(7) 含有 4% FFM 的饮食，由地衣芽孢杆菌 +B 制成。枯草芽孢杆菌+A。黑日尔 (Co-FFM)，和 (8) 含有 4% PFM 酶的饮食 (En-PFM)。结果表明，FFM中灰分、乙醚浸出物、总挥发性氮以及Lys、Met、Thr、Trp、His、Leu、Gly、Ile、Phe、Tyr等氨基酸含量均升高（P < 0.05），粗纤维、粗蛋白、干物质含量下降(P＜0.05)。与对照相比，Co-FFM 日粮在总体增重（2,827 克/鸡 2,791 克/鸡）、总采食量（5,018 克/鸡 4,991 克/鸡）、欧洲产量方面没有显着差异（P > 0.05）效率系数（375 vs. 377）、欧洲肉鸡指数（371 vs. 371）和饲料转化率（1.77 vs. 1.78 g/g）。与对照相比，饲喂FFM可降低(P＜0.05)血清总胆固醇(1.46倍)、甘油三酯(1.61倍)、VLDL-C(1.61倍)和LDL-C(2.27倍)。而且，FFM增加了(P＜0.05)绒毛高度(1,045至1,351、661至854​​和523至620μm)，以及绒毛高度与隐窝深度的比率(6.15至8.45、4.55至7.04和4.27至5.45)，与对照相比，分别在十二指肠、空肠和回肠中。与对照组相比，Co-FFM 饮食增加了（P < 0.05）胰腺、十二指肠和空肠中的蛋白酶（34%、39% 和 45%），以及胰脏、十二指肠和空肠中的淀粉酶（73% 和 97%）活性。分别为十二指肠和空肠。与对照相比，含有 FFM 的日粮降低了嗉囊、砂囊和回肠的 pH 值（P < 0.05），并减少了回肠中的大肠杆菌（6.12 至 5.70）计数（P < 0.05）。与对照组相比，Co-FFM 饮食增加了嗉囊（6.77 至 7.50）和回肠（6.94 至 7.73）中的乳酸菌计数（P < 0.05），也减少了（P < 0.05）回肠中的大肠菌群（6.31 至 5.75）计数。控制。总之，FM 发酵，特别是 Co-FFM，提高了 FM 的营养价值，将其转化为肉鸡日粮蛋白质的良好来源。