In this study, the fermentation of raw, inedible poultry byproducts mixed with sugarbeet pulp and dextrose and inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum and(or) Enteroccocus faecium resulted in a drop of pH in the byproducts to approximately 4.0 to 4.5 within 48 h. To keep the fermented product stable for a period of 21 d, the addition of > or = 3% (wt/wt) of a fermentable carbohydrate was necessary. With a high inoculation level of approximately 10(8) to 10(9) L. plantarum per gram, or with acidification of the initial mixture with .4% lactic acid, the number of Enterobacteriaceae decreased faster than with inoculation at 10(5) L. plantarum per gram, or without initial acidification. After 21 d of fermentation, a high level of enzymatic breakdown of proteins and amino acids was observed: the nonprotein N level increased from 5% to between 15 and 40% of total N and the volatile N level increased from 1% to between 3 and 11% of total N. An increase in histamine, cadaverine, and putrescine was also observed. Despite the technological measures taken, such as the application of a high inoculum of starter culture and initial acidification with .4% lactic acid, this amino acid breakdown could not be reduced to an acceptable level. These results suggest that, because of biochemical deterioration, fermentation alone is not a useful method of preservation of raw poultry byproducts.