Blood meal

This article is about the soil fertilizer. For animals that feed on blood, see hematophagy.

Blood meal is a dry, inert powder made from blood, used as a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer and a high protein animal feed. By weight, it is generally 12% nitrogen with trace amounts (≤1%) of phosphorus and potassium.^[1] It is one of the highest non-synthetic sources of nitrogen. It usually comes from cattle or hogs as a slaughterhouse by-product.

Uses

Dietary supplement

Blood meal can be used as a livestock dietary supplement and is mainly added to supply dietary lysine for cattle, fish and poultry.^[2] Prior to use, it is sometimes mixed with molasses.^[3]

Organic fertilizers

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.^[4] Blood meal is sometimes used as a composting activator.^[5]

Pest control

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.^[6][7]

Classifications

• It is a proteinaceous concentrate according to classifications of feed.
• It is a protein-yielding feedstuff according to classifications of feedstuffs.

Processing

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.^[8]

See also

• Blood as food
• Bone ash
• Bone meal
• Hydroponics § Organic hydroponic solutions
• Taboo food