Studies on the Preparation of Spent Hen Meal and Its Utilization in Pet Foods
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Date
2007
Authors
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Publisher
TANUVAS, Chennai
Abstract
Poultry industry in India has come a long way from backyard venture about four
decades ago to a well organized, most dynamic and rapidly expanding segment of our
livestock economy. Layer poultry industry in and around Namakkal houses about 3
crore-layer population and the spent hens are mainly sold in the Kerala and Karnataka
markets. Preparation of pet foods incorporating spent hen meal could be a profitable
way of utilization of spent hens and it may open a new way for getting more returns to
the poultry farmers, small scale entrepreneurs and self help groups.
The present study was planned to attempt a profitable utilization of spent hens.
The spent hens collected form a commercial poultry farm, were slaughtered and
subjected to dry rendering process. The spent hen fat was separated and the meal was
pulverized in hammer mill and it was packed in LDPE bags and stored at room
temperature.
The average yield of spent hen meal (SHM) and spent hen fat was 31.76 per
cent and 4.74 per cent, respectively. The efficiency of the dry rendering process adopted
in the present study was evident as the spent hen feathers were completely hydrolyzed
and the colour of the spent hen meal was golden brown with pleasant meaty odour.
The average values of moisture, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, total
ash, calcium and phosphorus were 5.47, 72.12, 9.52, 0.23, 12.34, 4.38 and 2.15
per cent, respectively.
Storage studies of the spent hen meal revealed that TBA, tyrosine, free fatty acid
and acid values and total bacterial counts increased significantly (P<0.01) during 90
days of room temperature storage. There were no E. coli, Salmonella spp.,
Clostridium spp., Staphylococci spp. and yeast and mould in the spent hen meal during
the entire storage period. The odour score decreased significantly (P<0.05) from 4.00 to
3.16 during the storage studies. However no off or rancid odour was detected during the
entire storage period. The results of the present study indicated that the spent hen meal
can be safely stored in LDPE bags at room temperature up to 90 days without addition
of antioxidants.
The pet food formulation was prepared as per the recommended nutritional
requirements for an adult dog (whole meal). The spent hen meal was incorporated at
two levels of 10 per cent and 20 per cent. The pet foods were prepared by extrusion
process, packed in LDPE bags and stored at room temperature. The acceptability of the
pet foods was assessed by conducting feeding trial in pet dogs and pet owner’s opinion
was obtained through a proforma.
The average values of moisture, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, total
ash, calcium phosphorus, NFE and ME for pet food incorporating 10 per cent and 20
per cent level of SHM were 4.90, 4.92; 22.26, 22.71; 12.27, 12.52; 2.85, 2.55; 4.30, 4.22;
1.14, 1.31; 0.79, 0.85 and 58.33, 58.01 per cent and 3886.4, 3889.2 kcal/kg,respectively.
Even though no artificial colouring and flavouring agents were used in preparing both the
types of pet foods, the colour of the pet foods was uniformly brown with pleasant meaty
odour. The physical attributes of the pet foods were preferred by the pet owner and the
palatability in pet dogs was very good.
The pet food prepared by incorporating spent hen meal at 10 and 20 per cent
during storage period of 45 days revealed that that TBA, tyrosine, free fatty acid and acid
values and total bacterial counts increased significantly during 45 days of room
temperature storage, however the pet food samples were negative for E. coli,
Salmonella spp., Clostridium spp., Staphylococci spp. and yeast and mould during the
entire storage period.
Observations on the pet owner’s opinion on pet food revealed that both types of
pet foods were acceptable to them. Body weight of the adult pet dogs did not decrease
during the entire feeding trial of one month and the health condition of the pets was good
and no digestive disturbance and allergic reaction was recorded.
The cost of production of pet food prepared by incorporating 10 per cent and 20
per cent SHM was Rs.18.00 / kg and Rs. 22.75 / kg, respectively. The cost of
commercially available pet food (whole meal) based on the market survey, ranged
between Rs. 60 - 120 per kg.
Hence it could be concluded that a pet food (whole meal) with good nutritive
quality and palatability to dogs can be prepared by incorporating 10 - 20 per cent of
spent hen meal, which can be safely stored up to 45 days at room temperature. A lower
production cost of the pet foods prepared in the present study was indicative of its good
market potential.
Description
Keywords
Veterinary Science, Meat Science and Technology