Check the rules first. Feeding meat and bone meal to livestock is restricted or banned in many countries, and the rules differ by animal species. Confirm what is permitted in your market before you specify an origin or grade. Then judge the lot on protein, ash, minerals and digestibility.
1. What MBM is
Meat and bone meal is made by rendering animal tissues that are not used for human food, such as carcass trimmings, bones and inedible offal. Hair, hooves and blood are normally not included. The result is a protein and mineral ingredient that supplies amino acids together with calcium and phosphorus.
Feedipedia notes that there can be wide variation between plants and batches in what goes into the meal. A higher ash level indicates more bone, and the product is then called meat and bone meal; a lower ash level is usually called meat meal. As a rule of thumb, phosphorus above 4.5% P points to meat and bone meal.
2. Regulations come first
Feedipedia records that meat and bone meal and other processed animal proteins were the vector of the BSE epidemic in Western Europe in the 1980s and 1990s. As a result many countries have restricted its use in livestock feed, some permitting only meal from certain species for certain animals, and the European Union banned its use in livestock feed in 2002. Feedipedia strongly recommends that users check their own country's rules.
Where it is allowed, proper heat treatment is required to control BSE and other disease agents such as Salmonella.
Our product page notes that availability of specific origin categories depends on lot confirmation and regional import regulations. In practice, tell us your destination country and intended use at the start so we can discuss what is possible.
3. Our specification at a glance
From our meat & bone meal page. These are typical ranges; actual shipment lot analysis is issued on contract confirmation.
| Parameter | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Crude protein | Min 50% – 57% (depending on origin and grade) |
| Crude fat | Max 13% – 16% |
| Moisture | Max 8% – 10% |
| Crude ash | Max 29% – 35% |
| Pepsin digestibility | Min 80% |
Origin categories offered, subject to lot confirmation and regional import regulations: porcine, bovine, porcine / poultry blended, and bovine / ovine blended.
4. Reading protein, ash and minerals
- Protein and ash move in opposite directions. More bone means more ash, calcium and phosphorus, and a lower share of protein. Read the two together.
- Typical ash, calcium and phosphorus. Feedipedia gives ash as normally 28–36%, calcium 7–10% and phosphorus 4.5–6%. Our ash range (29–35%) sits inside that.
- Minerals can limit inclusion. Feedipedia notes that when MBM is the main supplemental protein source, its mineral levels may limit its use in some formulations.
- Other nutrients. Like other animal products it is a good source of vitamin B12 (Feedipedia).
5. Heat, digestibility and amino acids
- Digestibility. Feedipedia reports protein digestibility normally in the range of 81–87%. Our specification asks for pepsin digestibility of at least 80% as a protein-quality benchmark.
- Overheating. Excessive heating during processing reduces the digestibility of the protein, and a higher processing temperature is associated with lower lysine availability (Feedipedia). Pepsin digestibility is often used to judge how far the meal was processed.
- Limiting amino acids. With cereal-based diets, Feedipedia lists lysine, methionine and threonine as limiting for swine, and methionine and cystine for poultry. Balance the formulation accordingly.
- Batch variation. Because the raw material varies, ask for the lot analysis rather than relying on the typical range.
6. How MBM compares with fish meal and soybean meal
Feedipedia states that the protein quality of MBM is lower than fish meal or soybean meal for supplementing protein in cereal-based swine or poultry diets. Its strength is the combination of moderately priced protein with highly available calcium and phosphorus. Feedipedia also reports mixed results when MBM replaces other protein sources in trials: performance was similar to fish meal in some studies and lower than soybean meal in others. Treat MBM as a complement chosen for its protein and mineral contribution, and let your nutritionist set the inclusion level.
7. Questions to ask before you choose
- Is MBM permitted for the species and market you serve? This comes first.
- Which origin do you need, and is it allowed at your destination?
- What protein, ash and phosphorus does your formulation need?
- Do you need digestibility data? Ask for the pepsin digestibility result on the lot.
- What volume, packaging and port? We offer 50 kg polypropylene bags or bulk big bags (FIBC) on buyer request. Shelf life is 12 months under recommended unopened storage conditions.
8. What to send for a quotation
- Destination country and intended use
- Preferred origin category and protein range
- Estimated monthly quantity
- Packaging preference and destination port
9. Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between meat and bone meal and meat meal?
Mainly the ash level. Higher ash, from more bone, is called meat and bone meal; lower ash is called meat meal. Feedipedia gives phosphorus above 4.5% P as the usual dividing line.
Can I use MBM in any livestock feed?
Not necessarily. Many countries restrict or ban it, and the rules depend on the animal species. Check your country's regulations before ordering.
What protein and ash do you offer?
Crude protein min 50–57% depending on origin and grade, and crude ash max 29–35%. These are typical ranges, confirmed per lot.
Which origins are available?
Porcine, bovine, porcine / poultry blended and bovine / ovine blended, subject to lot confirmation and regional import regulations.
How is it packed, and how long does it keep?
50 kg polypropylene bags or bulk big bags (FIBC) on buyer request. Shelf life is 12 months in unopened storage in a cool, dry, clean, well-ventilated facility protected from rain, humidity, heat sources and pests.
How do I request a price?
Use the quotation form, email sumanthans@ssgcommodities.com, or message us on WhatsApp at +1-613-324-3821.
Ready to request a quotation?
Tell us the destination country, intended use, origin and monthly quantity.
Sources
- Feedipedia, Meat and bone meal datasheet: feedipedia.org/node/222. Read October 2026. Feedipedia notes that parts of this datasheet are pending revision; the regulatory notes above should be checked against current national rules.