Every year, billions of chickens are processed for food - leaving behind mountains of feathers. While most see this as waste, aquaculture nutritionists see something else entirely: opportunity. These feathers, once destined for landfills, are now being transformed into a high-protein, sustainable ingredient known as feather meal.
Feather meal is made from clean, sanitized poultry feathers, a byproduct of poultry processing. In their raw form, they’re indigestible to fish. But thanks to a process called hydrolysis - which uses high pressure and heat - these feathers are broken down into a digestible protein meal ideal for aquaculture. This transformation turns a challenging waste stream into a valuable asset, reducing environmental impact and supporting circular economy goals. Processed feather meal can contain up to 85% crude protein, making it a powerful addition to fish diets especially for carnivorous species like salmon and trout. It’s particularly rich in the amino acid cystine, supporting tissue growth and repair.
By re-purposing poultry feathers, we avoid landfill waste and reduce the need for resource-intensive ingredients.
Feather meal reduce the need for land and water: Compared to plant-based proteins like soy, feather meal requires zero additional agricultural land and no irrigation - it’s a true byproduct. The poultry industry generates over 5 million tons of feathers globally per year - enough to fill more than 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools!
Outside of fish farming, feather meals are also valued in agriculture as a slow-release organic fertilizer, thanks to its high nitrogen content. But in the aquaculture world, its main strength lies in its protein profile and sustainability benefits.
Feather meals aren’t just for fish or fertilizer - researchers are exploring their use in bioplastics, textiles, and even battery electrodes! In the U.S., feather fibers have been tested as insulation material in jackets, offering a cruelty-free alternative to goose down.
Trout and salmon digest feather meal better than many think. These species naturally consume high-protein diets, and when feather meal is used in the right amounts and combinations, they support excellent growth rates. Feather meal contributes to lower phosphorus levels in aquaculture effluent, making it a good fit for environmentally conscious farms. Feather meal is rarely used alone, it works best as part of a balanced formulation strategy, where it complements other ingredients to meet the complete nutritional needs of fish. When used thoughtfully, feather meal helps maintain nutrient balance, supports muscle development, and can even contribute to better flesh quality.
Fun facts:
Feathers are 90% keratin.
2.5 kg of feathers = 1 kg of feather meal and when formulated properly, it contributes to high feed efficiency without compromising growth performance.
Feathers contain the same tough protein found in human hair and nails.
Properly processed feather meal is highly digestible - a big shift from its raw form.
Feathers are stronger than you think: The keratin in feathers is one of the toughest natural proteins. Pound for pound, it’s stronger than steel in tensile strength.
Feathers are ultra-light: Despite their strength, feathers are extremely lightweight. This makes processing and transportation of feather meal more energy efficient per protein unit compared to bulkier ingredients.
By giving feathers a second life in aquaculture feeds, we’re not just feeding fish - we’re feeding the future. Feather meal is a powerful example of how innovative thinking and smart nutrition can turn waste into value, improve feed sustainability, and help build a zero-waste future in fish farming.
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The oxygen content of the water is often the most prominent limiting factor in intensive fish farming. It is a well-known fact that poor oxygen content means that it is not possible to utilise the full potential of both the fish and the feed. A jet platform is an example of an efficient and yet simple mechanical method for oxygen enrichment of water.
BioMar er en frontløber hvad angår emissionsreduktion inden for vores branche.
In fish farming, large fluctuations in the oxygen content of water have a negative impact on the well-being of the fish and consequently on its growth. High water temperatures or rich vegetation in the water are important alarming factors to observe, especially in summer periods.
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Hos BioMar forstår vi, at rejsen til enestående fisk og rejer begynder længe før, den når bordet, og den starter med det foder, der giver næring til fisk og rejer.
Fisk og skaldyr er meget tilpasningsdygtige og har brug for omkring 40 essentielle næringsstoffer, som kan komme fra forskellige råmaterialer, herunder marine ingredienser, animalske produkter, korn og nye kilder. Denne tilpasningsevne er afgørende for branchens vækst og vil give mulighed for forskellige foderformuleringer.
En rekordlav FFDR på 0,37 blev rapporteret i dag i BioMar's bæredygtighedsrapport for 2024. Denne milepæl blev nået gennem innovativ brug af alternative ingredienser og afskæringer, som nu udgør 55 % af de samlede marine ingredienser. De stadigt skiftende markedsforhold for råvarer kan dog gøre det udfordrende at opretholde denne position over tid.
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Just like humans, fish need certain levels oxygen to thrive. Sub-optimal oxygen levels may have consequences on the well-being of the fish and consequently on the economic outcome of a fish farm. Active observation and assessment are required to take the necessary actions in good time.
FLAG-emissioner (Forest, Land and Agriculture) vil være vigtige, når akvakulturindustrien skifter til produktion med lavere kulstofindhold. Disse udledninger, som nu spores under Science-Based Targets-initiativet (SBTi), stammer fra arealanvendelse og landbrugsaktiviteter snarere end fra energiforbrug.
Selecting the right feed is critical for achieving production goals on a fish farm. Conducting feed trials directly on the farm is the most effective way to identify the best option. BioMar helps guide this process.
In fish farming, being attentive to oxygen levels and implementing oxygenation are important prerequisites for maintaining economic growth rates.
I dag har forbindelsen mellem det, vi spiser, og hvordan det påvirker vores helbred, aldrig været tydeligere. Når det drejer sig om fisk og skaldyr, er denne forbindelse endnu mere betydningsfuld. Det er ikke bare »vi er, hvad vi spiser« - men »vi er, hvad vi spiser, spiser.« Opdrættede fisks og rejers kost har direkte indflydelse på deres næringsværdi, hvilket gør kvaliteten af fiskefoderet til en afgørende faktor for at sikre, at de fisk og skaldyr, vi spiser, er nærende, sunde og produceret på en ansvarlig måde.