Written by: Dr. Jacquie Jacob, University of Kentucky
In the United States, millions of tons of animal by-products are produced annually. In the past, the only options for using the by-products were as rendered products for use in animal diets or disposal in landfills. New uses of meat and bone meal are being explored, including its use as a fuel or a phosphorus fertilizer. More recently, researchers at South Carolina’s Clemson University have been looking at the use of meat and bone meal in petroleum-free bioplastics that can be used in items such as skis and snowboards.
Slaughter by-products are routinely recycled for use in animal feeds. They are cooked (rendered) to produce a nutritional and economical feed ingredient. The by-products used in feeds include meat trimmings, inedible parts and organs, fetuses, and
There are a number of different types of meat and bone meal. The raw materials in meat and bone meal in the United States are typically beef and pork by-products.
Meat and bone meal is an excellent source of protein. In poultry diets, meat and bone meal is typically limited to less than 5% of the diet content because of the high calcium, phosphorus, and lysine content of the meal.
Nutrient content of slaughterhouse by-products (Source: Feedstuffs Ingredient Analysis Table: 2016 edition of the Feedstuffs Reference Issue, by Amy Batal and Nick Dale, University of Georgia)
| INGREDIENT | DM | ME | CP | EE | CF | Ca | Met | Lys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meat and bone meal, 45% | 92 | 2375 | 45.0 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 11.00 | 0.53 | 2.20 |
| Meat and bone meal, 50% | 93 | 2530 | 50.0 | 8.5 | 2.8 | 9.20 | 0.67 | 2.60 |
| Meat meal, 55% | 93 | 2685 | 55.0 | 7.2 | 2.5 | 7.60 | 0.75 | 3.00 |
DM = Dry matter, %; Energy = kcal/kg; CP = crude protein, %; EE = Crude fat (ether extract), %; CF = Crude fiber, %; Ca = Calcium, %; Met = Methionine, %; Lys = Lysine, %