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:

  1. Collection: Animal by-products such as bones, offal, and meat trimmings are collected from various sources.
  2. Grinding: The raw materials are ground into smaller pieces to facilitate efficient cooking.
  3. 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.
  4. Pressing and Centrifugation: The cooked material is pressed to remove excess fat, which is then separated through centrifugation.
  5. Drying: The remaining solid material is dried to reduce moisture content, resulting in a stable, shelf-stable product.
  6. 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.

Nutritional Composition

MBM's nutritional value is characterised by its high protein and mineral content. The typical composition includes:

  • Protein: 48-52%
  • Ash: 33-35%
  • Fat: 8-12%
  • Moisture: 4-7%