The Nutritional Potential of Poultry Offal

Abstract

RAPID expansion of the poultry industry and changes in consumer preference from “New York” dressed to eviscerated poultry have developed increased needs for profitable disposal of poultry byproducts. Rendering plants process a large proportion of the poultry heads, feet, viscera, blood and feathers used in feeds today (Kahle and Gray, 1957; Lortscher et al., 1957). Blood is heat-dried for use as a supplement in feeds. Wet feathers may be hydrolyzed under high steam pressure, dried and ground for use in feeds (McKerns and Rittersporn, 1958). In recent years, poultry offal, including heads, feet, and viscera, has become increasingly valuable as a feed or feed supplement in the diets of fur-bearing animals (Bassett and Wilke, 1948), and household pets (Morris, 1946). In cooked form, offal may be used to advantage as a feed for hogs (Kahle and Gray, 1957). Little information is available concerning the nutrient composition of poultry offal. Partial …