台糖永續發展(英)-Feather Hydrolysis Technology Provides Low-carbon Feed Source

::: Home > Annual Highlights > ESG Actions > Feather Hydrolysis Technology Provides Low-carbon Feed Source

Feather Hydrolysis Technology Provides Low-carbon Feed Source

　　Feathers are 91% protein (mainly keratin), 8% water, and 1% fat. Keratin is similar in structure to human keratin and has extremely high bioavailability. However, the feathers produced in slaughterhouses are currently mainly made into feather meal by high-temperature and high-pressure cooking. The digestibility of this meal is only 40-60%, and the quality is unstable. It is difficult to use it in feed on a large scale and can only be added in small amounts to the feed of economic animals or even pets. Most of them eventually return to farmland and are buried without any higher-value utilization.

　　Taiwan Sugar Research Institute (TSRI) has found the pain point of this value chain. Without altering the existing industrial chain and the existing equipment of the processing plant, the addition of a single, simple reaction step incorporating specialized microorganisms can increase the digestion efficiency by over 85%, completely changing the quality and appearance of feather meal, and creating a new industrial value chain. Animal experiments have confirmed that in aquatic applications, it can be used as a growth promoter and replace 10 to 30% of fish meal protein; in the application of young livestock and poultry, it can be used as a high-quality protein and replace 20 to 50% of fermented soybean powder and fish meal protein. It is initially estimated that this technology can increase the output value of this industry in Taiwan by about 6.7 times, reaching NTD2.8 billion.

　　Every year, about 380 million chickens are slaughtered, each weighing about 2-3 kilograms. It is estimated that Taiwan produces about 60,000 to 70,000 metric tonnes of feather waste each year, which can provide about 50,000 to 60,000 metric tonnes of protein. Through TSC’s innovative technology, these proteins can be put to good use, which will help support the increasingly strong protein demand in the country. It not only meets the needs of livestock and aquaculture, but also reduces the pressure of traditional feed production on resources such as soybeans, corn and even fish meal. It does not compete with the people for food or plunder marine resources. At the same time, it also reduces the transportation cost and carbon emissions of imported feed, bringing sustainable development opportunities for both food safety and the environment.