A DJ strain with a high efficience of feather-degrading capability was isolated from the soil of feather waste by the enrichment culture and the screening process．The strain was identified as Streptomyces sp. according to morphologic observation

16S rDNA sequence alignment

and phylogenetic trees analysis. After fermenting at 32 ℃ for 10 days

the feather degradation rate reached 50%

and the feather hydrolysate was found to contain amino acids. The protease produced by the DJ strain had a maximal activity at 45 ℃

and the optimum reactive pH at 10.0. The protease displayed a higher hydrolysis activity to feather than Alcalase and Papain

and had a strong hydrolysis ability to the hydrophobic or hydrophilic natural substrates. The results indicated that the DJ strain and its protease was of potential application prospects．