Meat and Bone Meal

Meat and Bone Meal (MBM) is produced by rendering animal by-products from the meatpacking, slaughterhouse, and food processing industries. The process involves cooking, grinding, and dehydrating animal tissues to create a fine, homogeneous meal.

Meat and Bone Meal (MBM) is a valuable product derived from animal by-products through a meticulous rendering process. This process transforms otherwise unusable materials into a nutrient-rich meal with multiple applications. Here's a detailed look at MBM:

Categories of Animal By-Products for MBM

Animal by-products used for MBM production are classified into two main categories based on their risk level:

Category 1: High-Risk Materials

Specified Risk Material (SRM): Includes spinal cord and brain from cattle.
TSE-Suspected Animals: Animals suspected or confirmed to have transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).
Environmental Contaminants: Animal by-products containing contaminants.

Category 2: Medium-Risk Materials

Manure and Digestive Tract Content: Waste materials not suitable for human consumption.
Non-Category 1 Materials: Other materials not falling into Category 1 but unsuitable for human or animal consumption.

Production Process

The production of MBM involves several steps to ensure the final product is safe and of high quality:

Collection: Animal by-products such as bones, offal, and meat trimmings are collected from various sources.
Grinding: The raw materials are ground into smaller pieces to facilitate efficient cooking.
Rendering: The ground materials are rendered at high temperatures to remove moisture and kill pathogens. This step also separates fat from protein and bone components.
Pressing and Centrifugation: The cooked material is pressed to remove excess fat, which is then separated through centrifugation.
Drying: The remaining solid material is dried to reduce moisture content, resulting in a stable, shelf-stable product.
Grinding: The dried material is ground into a fine meal, which is then packaged for various uses.

Applications of Meat and Bone Meal

MBM is a versatile product with numerous applications, primarily in:

Soil Amendment: MBM is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium, making it an effective organic fertiliser that enhances soil fertility and promotes plant growth.
Biodiesel Production: The fat extracted during the rendering process can be converted into biodiesel, contributing to renewable energy sources.