Fish meal: composition and use

For domestic animals and poultry fishmeal, experienced farmers are advised to mix in the forage necessarily. It is a very useful product that helps to accelerate growth and development. It contains just a huge amount of different kinds of vitamins and trace elements.

Phosphorus and selenium

What are the substances that make up a product such as fishmeal, are considered useful? In very large quantities in fishmeal, as in all seafood, contains phosphorus. This element is involved in almost all processes of vital activity of animals. It is he who accelerates their growth. A distinctive feature of phosphorus is that it is absorbed by the body without any residue.

Another substance contained in fishmeal - selenium - provides strengthening of the immune system. A lot of this microelement in legumes. However, in soils on the territory of our country it is kept very little. Accordingly, feeding peas and beans to animals, does not allow to fill it in full. This is where fishmeal comes to the rescue.

Protein content in fish meal

Proteins in fishmeal are very many - not less than 60-65%. And in an expensive and high-quality product - 70%. It is this substance that is the source of protein. Another component of its element is amino acids. They are necessary for the body to build muscle tissue. Independently, they can not produce them. The flour contains the most effective natural amino acids: cystine, methionine, lysine, threonine.

Fish meal, the composition of which allows it to be used successfully in agriculture, also contains animal fats. They are ideally complemented by the vegetable that enter the body with grass, fruits and vegetables. The correct balance of these substances stimulates the production of antibodies, as a result of which animals are much less likely to get sick. Another type of microelements is polyunsaturated acids. They contribute to the development of a special hormone - progesterone. It, in turn, has a beneficial effect on the ability of animals to reproduce.

The digestibility of the protein contained in fishmeal is very high and is about 95%. Protein itself, as the main product, is very much in it - about 60%.

Flour composition

The chemical composition of this product can be found in the table below.

Vitamins in fishmeal

Fishmeal, the composition of which in terms of trace elements is extremely diverse, including includes vitamins A, D, B. In plant foods they are not enough. In flour, on the contrary, very much. Vitamin A promotes growth and development of the body of animals. It takes a direct part in the formation of new cells. Vitamin B stimulates the nervous and muscular activity, and D promotes the assimilation of animal phosphorus. Its deficiency can cause rickets.

The Benefits of Fishmeal

Flour fish, the producers of which currently sell a high-quality product, when added to feed allows:

• To accelerate the growth and development of domestic animals and poultry.
• Strengthen their immune system.
• Improve the development of nerve and bone tissue. This reduces the risk of various kinds of deformations of the skeleton.

For which fishmeal is useful

It is very useful, for example, to give fish meal to egg-laying hens. This increases the number of eggs carried by them. It also prevents the development of various diseases. In addition, the use of this product significantly improves the quality of the eggs themselves. Fishmeal, the use of which in agriculture is more than justified, is very often used in dairy farming. Feeding her cows can reduce the fat content of milk. Also, the meat of these animals is characterized by an optimal fat composition. In fur farming, this product can improve the quality of fur. It is very useful to give it to rabbits and nutria.

From which raw materials are flour produced

Production of fishmeal is a process that requires the use of special equipment - presses, conveyors, etc. It can be made from practically any commercial sea fish. However, the most suitable for this purpose are small varieties, which, by the way, are usually not suitable for human nutrition. The production of flour is one of the main directions of the fish industry. To produce 1 ton of this product, it is necessary to process approximately 5-6 tons of raw materials. Annually around the world, about 6.5 million tons of this useful product are produced.

Methods of making fishmeal

Production of fishmeal is a process carried out in the following ways:

• Direct drying.
• Extraction.
• Pressing and drying.
• Centrifuge-drying.
• Combined.

Direct drying method

Preparation of fishmeal occurs in special drums with agitator blades. Before loading the crushed raw material, they are heated to a temperature of 85-90 g. Initially, the fish is cooked for about half an hour. The term of hot processing directly depends on the content of lipids in the raw material. After the cooking has been completed, the drum is pressurized, which is gradually increased. The drying time is usually about 4 hours, if initially 10-12% water is contained in the fish.

After the flour is ready, it is taken out of the drum with a stirrer and fed to the press for partial removal of fat. The resulting briquettes are ground in a special mill and passed through magnets to remove any microscopic dust particles from the metal. Next, the flour is packed in bags or bags and sent to the warehouse.

Extraction method

In this case, the production of a product such as fishmeal is based on the process of so-called azeotropic distillation. He did not receive a particularly wide circulation. It is used mainly only in the manufacture of granulated fish meal. It is then obtained in special installations using solvents such as trichloroethane, isopropyl alcohol, hexane and dichloroethane.

Pressing-drying method

In this case, the feedstock is transported to the special hopper, and then to the cooking vessel. After hot treatment, it enters the screw press to remove moisture. The remaining mass after drying is dried and ground.

One of the modifications of this method is centrifugal drying. In this case, after cooking, the fish does not enter the press, but into a special centrifuge.

The broth, left after processing the raw materials by all these methods, is used to prepare another very useful product - fish oil. It is also very often added to animal feed. It is extremely useful, for example, for ducks and chickens. Receiving fish oil, the young bird is much less sick, in addition, reduces lunge. This product, as well as flour, is mixed into the feed of the bird. Experienced farmers are recommended to dilute it with water in a proportion of 1: 2.

Can I make fishmeal with my own hands?

Some farmers are interested in the question of how fishmeal is produced in the home. As you can see, the technology of its production is not complicated, but requires the availability of special equipment. Therefore, it will hardly be possible to make it independently. Yes, and will cost the product in this case, even more expensive than the purchased one.

Fish flour: instructions for use

The norms of feeding fishmeal for different animals are different. So, cash cows can be given per kilogram per day. In the diet of poultry it should be 2-3%. Chickens, goslings and ducklings can be poured up to 7% of the total amount of feed. Too much fishmeal to give the bird, however, is impossible.

Which manufacturer's product is worth buying

Fishmeal is produced practically in all countries of the world. The highest quality is produced in Chile and Peru. However, such a flour is quite expensive. Therefore, domestic farmers prefer to buy a product of Russian production. In terms of quality, it is almost inferior to Chilean and Peruvian, but costs much less.

How to store the product

If the fish meal is not properly stored, the lipids will begin to oxidize, and the content of vitamins will drop significantly in the supplement. In addition, the moisture content of the product may change. In a damp room, the flour will actively absorb the water vapor, in too dry - on the contrary, give. The optimal humidity in the room for storing this product is 60-70%. In some cases, this indicator may be slightly higher. However, in no case should it exceed 75%.

Thus, fishmeal - a product, as you can see, is very useful and at the same time inexpensive. It is not difficult to manufacture, but without using special equipment, this can not be done.