Proteins out of rendering

Sustainable utilisation of animal by-products

Rendering is the best available control technology to ensure the sustainable utilisation of animal by-products such as poultry, a third of which is not intended for human consumption.

Regulation

Governmental institutes regulate the processing of food and feed, and the rendering industry is frequently vetted. In addition, actions of the industry include good manufacturing practices, HACCP and many other certifications. Material is classified into three categories in the EU Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 (Regulation on animal by-products) based on the risk involved. So-called Cat-3 material mainly comprises waste materials and by-products from slaughterhouses that are fit for human consumption at slaughter but no longer intended for it.

Procedures for rendering

Unprocessed animal by-products (meat, blood, feathers, bones, heads, feet and viscera) contain a broad range of microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria, that can proliferate and pose a potential threat to animal and human health as well as to the environment. The rendering of animal by-products is very beneficial to eradicate these microorganisms.

Each rendering product has different standards and its own process to produce value-added products. Temperature and duration of cooking are the most crucial factors, besides the high level of hygiene.

Protein and fat in pet food

The most important protein products in pet food are poultry meal, meat and bone meal and feather meal. Furthermore, there are special products such as spray-dried protein concentrate, liver meal or egg powder from species such as turkey and duck. Fats are also produced in the rendering process, with varying contents of free fatty acids, quality levels and commercial characteristics.

Table 1 shows a comparison of the dietary composition of animal-source proteins such as poultry meal, fishmeal and insect meal with a plant-based protein like soybean meal.

What is the best protein source for pet food?

Animal-based proteins are generally more balanced in terms of amino acids than proteins of plant origin and should be the preferred protein sources in a high-quality diet. Animal-based products are also a sustainable alternative to soybean meal in the context of ethical aspects relating to deforestation. Insect meal has a hypoallergenic aspect in pet nutrition and, in line with recent thinking, has the potential to play a key role in protein production in terms of consistent quantities, high quality and supply stability. However, the current price of insect meal is still not competitive with other protein sources such as fish and poultry.

Since each protein has its own advantages, a combination of all of them is the best solution in animal nutrition.