Isolation, Identification and Characterization of Keratin degrading microorganisms from Poultry soil and their Feather degradation Potential

Keratinolytic microorganisms have a great importance in poultry waste degradation and its bioconversion to compost or animal feed. The aim of this study was to isolate keratin degrading bacteria and fungi from poultry farm soil, and to study their ability to degrade chicken feathers. The poultry farm soil samples were added in basal medium with feathers as a source of carbon and nitrogen. Five bacterial cultures were isolated. Bacteria were grown in basal media with feathers meal and showed feather degrading capacity. Bacterial strains were identified as Aeromicrobium spp., Exiguobacter spp., Marinococcus spp. and Bacillus spp. 1 & Bacillus spp 2.These bacteria showed keratinolytic enzyme activity in the cell free culture supernatants. The highest biodegradation of feathers was obtained using Aeromicrobium (KD1-72.55%), among the isolated cultures. Two fungal cultures (F1 and F2) were also isolated by Hair Bait Technique, out of which F1 showed good keratinolytic activity. The good ability of selected microorganisms to degrade feathers can be utilized for their potential biotechnological application in processing of feather waste from poultry industry.