Blood meal is a byproduct of the slaughterhouse, gotten from slaughtering animals for human consumption. Bloodmeal is made by collecting fresh blood from the slaughterhouse, the blood is dried, sterilized, and processed into a fine powder to reduce the particle size and ease transportation and storage. Today, blood meal is a major feed ingredient used as a source of crude protein in animal diets.

Blood meal is a raw and natural source of protein and minerals in animal feeds when added at the best inclusion rate. Several concerns have been raised about the advantages and disadvantages of including blood meal in animal diets; the focus has always been on the safety and acceptability of the animals fed. Find out the composition and pros and cons of blood meal in animal diet as you read.

Nutritional Composition of Blood Meal

• Protein: Bloodmeal contains between 80-95% crude protein on a dry matter basis. This protein has an excellent amino acid profile.

• Amino acids: Bloodmeal contains good levels of histidine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, and valine. Blood meal is high in lysine, an essential amino acid that is often limiting in grain-based feeds.

• Minerals: Bloodmeal is rich in iron and also provides good amounts of copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc. It contains lower levels of calcium and phosphorus compared to other animal protein meals. The iron in bloodmeal is highly bioavailable.

Blood meal can help meet protein requirements in ruminant and monogastric animal diets in a highly digestible form. The high protein and lysine content make blood meal particularly useful for supplementing poultry and swine feeds.

Advantages Of Using Blood Meal

• Blood meal provides high levels of protein and iron, essential for livestock health.
• A blood meal is an affordable source of quality protein for livestock feeds.
• Compared to other protein supplements like soybean meal, blood meal is generally cheaper on a per unit of protein basis.
• Blood meal is widely available because slaughterhouses generate large quantities of blood as a by-product.
• Adding blood meal can help balance the amino acid profile and promote optimal growth and performance.
• Blood meal contains a very high concentration of lysine and methionine, often lacking in grain-based livestock diets.
• Ruminants like cattle can utilize blood meal protein better thanks to microbial fermentation in the rumen.

Disadvantages Of Using Blood Meal

• Blood meal faces a risk of contamination from the slaughterhouse if proper precautions are not taken.
• The protein in blood meal is not as digestible for monogastric like poultry and swine compared to other protein sources.
• Too much blood meal in the diet can lead to amino acid deficiencies.
• Blood meal taste and odor may repel some animals off their feed when included at too high rates in the diet formulation.
• Salmonella and other Pathogens can be transferred from the animal blood to the blood meal if not properly heat-treated during processing.

Related: Feather Meal: Usage And Nutritional Benefits In Animal Feeds

Blood meal offers several advantages as well as some disadvantages when used as a livestock feed ingredient. The present challenge for nutritionists is to find the appropriate level of inclusion along with other feed ingredients to maximize the benefits of adding blood meal to animal diet. Masking agents or gradual introduction may help adapt livestock to a unique taste profile.

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