Bioutilization of Chicken Feather Waste by Newly Isolated Keratinolytic Bacteria and Conversion into Protein Hydrolysates with Improved Functionalities

Chicken feathers are major poultry waste that is difficult to process in its native form due highly resistant keratin protein large amounts. In this study, a novel feather-degrading bacterium, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens KB1, was screened from chicken farm bed (CFB) using morphological and biochemical tests followed by 16s rDNA analysis. Among observed isolates, bacterial isolate (KB1) showed the highest degree of feather degradation (74.78 ± 2.94%) total soluble (205 0.03 mg/g). The optimum fermentation conditions obtained were at 40 °C (temperature), pH 9, 1% (w/v) concentration response surface methodology Box-Behnken design. It produced 260 mg/g bioactive peptides with 86.16% degradation. amino acid profile an increase essential acids compared meal broth. selection safe screening source for new bacterium CFB hydrolysates enhanced bioactivity applicable feed, cosmetic applications, along environmental bioremediation.