Blood addition and processing conditions: improving protein content and digestibility value of hydrolyzed feather meal

Abstract

The study aimed to optimize the processing conditions for hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) with the addition of coagulated blood. Factorial design and response surface methodology were used to optimize processing conditions in function of protein content (%) and digestibility value (%) of HFM. Higher protein contents were obtained when the upper levels of the variables pressure (kgf.cm−2), hydrolysis time (min), and blood addition (%) were used in the process. Longer hydrolysis time and a higher percentage of blood result in higher digestibility values. Mathematics models can be used to estimate the protein content and digestibility value of HFM with coagulated blood. Hydrolyzed feather meal with higher protein content and digestibility value can be produced by adding coagulated blood and appropriate processing parameters.