Effects of poultry by-product composition and processing on nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics of high-protein dry dog food

Poultry by-products, particularly feather meal (FM), are discussed as promising sustainable protein sources for pet foods. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of FMs, differing in processing and origin, when incorporated into a complete diet across two studies on nutrient digestibility and fecal quality in dogs. Six dogs participated in a crossover experimental design. Firstly, premium FM (FMpre), dried at 270 °C for 60 s, followed by drying at 80 °C for 120 s, and economy FM (FMeco I), dried at 160 °C for 60 min, were provided. FMpre contained a mixture of poultry feathers, FMeco I consisted of broiler feathers. Afterwards, FMpre was compared to FMeco II, which also consisted of a poultry feather mix, except it was one processed under the same conditions as FMeco I. In the first trial, no significant differences in apparent nutrient digestibility were observed between the two diets. The second trial, however, showed a significantly lower apparent organic matter digestibility of FMeco II compared to FMpre. Generally, no significant differences in fecal quality scores were observed. Moreover, the origin of the feathers did not significantly affect the nutritional digestibility or fecal characteristics of the dogs.