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Feathers with a future

jul. 7, 2025
3 min read

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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