The objective of this study was to evaluate apparent digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen balance and plasma urea nitrogen in diets with different levels of hydrolyzed feather meal inclusion. Five wethers with 50 kg of live weight were used. A 5 x 5 Latin square experimental design was used and the treatments were as following: 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% replacement of soybean meal plus urea by hydrolyzed feather meal. Total feces and urine collection was used for apparent digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen balance. Hydrolyzed feather meal inclusion produced a quadratic response for protein intake and a negative linear response for protein digestion. Fecal excretion increased linearly and digestibility decreased linearly for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) with hydrolyzed feather meal inclusion. Hydrolyzed feather meal inclusion decreased linearly total digestible intake and produced a linear effect for all variables evaluated in nitrogen balance. There was a positive response for feces and urine nitrogen excretion and a negative response for dry matter digestibility and plasma urea nitrogen. There was a quadratic effect for intake nitrogen and nitrogen retention.
by-pass protein; digestibility; nitrogen balance; plasma urea nitrogen; wethers
