Blood meal is a dry, inert powder made from blood, used as a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer and a high protein animal feed. N = 13.25%, P = 1.0%, K = 0.6%. It is one of the highest non-synthetic sources of nitrogen. It usually comes from cattle or hogs as a slaughterhouse by-product.
Uses[edit]
Dietary supplement[edit]
Blood meal can be used as a livestock dietary supplement and is mainly added to supply dietary lysine for cattle, fish and poultry.[1] Prior to use, it is sometimes mixed with molasses.[2]
Organic fertilizers[edit]
Blood meal, bone meal, and other animal by-products are permitted in certified organic production as soil amendments, though they cannot be fed to organic livestock. Blood meal is different from bone meal in that blood meal contains a higher amount of nitrogen, while bone meal contains phosphorus. Alternatives to Blood Meal include feather meal and alfalfa meal.[3] Blood meal is sometimes used as a composting activator.[4]
Pest control[edit]
Blood meal can be spread on gardens to deter pest animals such as rabbits. The theory is that the animals smell the blood and are repelled by the odor.[5][6]
Classifications[edit]
- It is a proteinaceous concentrate according to classifications of feed.
- It is a protein-yielding feedstuff according to classifications of feedstuffs.
Processing[edit]
Blood needs to be dried before being used as blood meal. Several drying methods are available: solar drying, oven drying, drum drying, flash drying or spray drying.[7]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Henry, William Arnon; Morrison, Frank Barron (1915). Feeds and feeding: a hand-book for the student and stockman. Henry-Morrison. p. 184.
- ^ King'ori, AM; Tuitoek, JK; Muiruri, HK (1998). "Comparison of fermented dried blood meal and cooked dried blood meal as protein supplements for growing pigs". Tropical Animal Health and Production. 30 (3): 191–6. doi:10.1023/a:1005015804804. PMID 9719848. S2CID 28241258.
- ^ "Using Blood Meal To Improve Your Garden Soil".
- ^ "University of Illinois Extension". Composting For The Home Owner. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Bradley, Fern Marshall; Ellis, Barbara W. (1997). Review: Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener. Rodale Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-87596-743-1.
- ^ Poisson, Leandre; Vogel Poisson, Gretchen (1994). Solar gardening: growing vegetables year-round the American intensive way. Chelsea Green Publishing. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-930031-69-5.
- ^ Heuzé V., Tran G., 2016. Blood meal. Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/221 Last updated on March 31, 2016, 10:31