Blood meal

Blood meal is a key product obtained from the blood of slaughtered animals and is mainly used as a high-protein feed supplement and nitrogen-rich fertilizer. It is a versatile and nutrient-rich product. Thanks to careful processing and compliance with strict regulatory standards, it meets the requirements of various industries, not just agriculture. It contributes to sustainable production and the implementation of the principles of the circular economy. Are you interested in details like the production process, uses and benefits of blood meal? Here they are.

What is blood meal?

It is a dried powdered form of blood, usually obtained from cattle and pigs. It is produced by heating blood to remove moisture, which effectively kills pathogens and ensures a stable, long-lasting product.

Production process

1. Collection: Blood is obtained from slaughtered animals in approved facilities. It is essential to collect blood exclusively from healthy animals in order to ensure flawless quality of the final product.
2. Heat treatment: The blood obtained undergoes heat treatment, which eliminates moisture and any pathogens that are present.
3. Grinding: The dried blood is ground up into a fine powder to create the final product – blood meal.

Use of blood meal

Its use is different for specific industries, usually as:

• Animal feed
  • Protein supplement: Blood meal is a rich source of protein and provides valuable essential amino acids for animal growth and health. Where it may be used, however, depends on the species it comes from:
    • Legally, blood meal is processed animal protein; Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 names it explicitly in that definition. The feed ban under Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 therefore applies to blood meal.
    • Processed animal protein may not be fed to ruminants. Named exceptions apply to other farmed animals: under the conditions of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, poultry may be fed processed animal protein from pigs, and pigs may be fed it from poultry. It may not be fed back to the same species.
    • Pet food is not covered by the feed ban, because dogs and cats are not farmed animals. Aquaculture animals have their own named exception for processed animal protein from non-ruminants.
• Fertilizer
  • Nitrogen source: Blood meal is rich in nitrogen, which is an essential nutrient for plant growth. It is commonly used as an organic fertilizer to improve soil fertility.
  • Sustainable agriculture: It promotes sustainable agricultural practices by providing a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers.

A milder rule also applies to the production of blood meal than to other mammalian protein meals. These must in principle undergo pressure sterilisation under method 1; porcine blood and its fractions may instead be processed into blood meal by any of methods 1 to 5 or by method 7, in the case of method 7 subject to heat treatment at a core temperature of 80 °C.

A trio of blood meal benefits

• Rich in nutrients: It contains a high amount of protein and essential amino acids for animal nutrition.
• Soil enrichment: It provides a slow-release source of nitrogen that improves soil health and plant growth.
• Sustainability: It utilizes animal by-products, thereby reducing waste, supporting sustainable agriculture and complying with the principles of the circular economy.