Blood meal

{{about|the soil fertilizer|animals that feed on blood|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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Megan |url=https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/whats-the-difference-between-blood-meal-and-bonemeal-and-can-i-use-them-together/ |website=Better Homes & Gardens |title=What to Know About Blood Meal vs. Bone Meal for Fertilizing Plants |access-date=6 June 2025 |date=30 April 2024 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book |first1=William Arnon |last1=Henry |first2=Frank Barron |last2=Morrison |year=1915 |title=Feeds and feeding: a hand-book for the student and stockman |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_SVgaAAAAIAAJ |publisher=Henry-Morrison |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_SVgaAAAAIAAJ/page/n146 184]}}</ref> Prior to use, it is sometimes mixed with molasses.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=9719848 |year=1998 |last1=King'ori |first1=A. M. |last2=Tuitoek |first2=J. K. |last3=Muiruri |first3=H. K. |title=Comparison of fermented dried blood meal and cooked dried blood meal as protein supplements for growing pigs. |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=191–196 |journal=Tropical Animal Health and Production|doi=10.1023/a:1005015804804 |s2cid=28241258 }}</ref>

Feeding blood products to ruminants (such as cattle and sheep) is illegal in the United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supplying-and-using-animal-by-products-as-farm-animal-feed |title=Guidance: Supplying and using animal by-products as farm animal feed |author1=Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs |author2=Animal and Plant Health Agency |website=GOV.UK |date=14 January 2019 |access-date=24 December 2025 |quote=You can only feed these ABPs to non-ruminants (animals that do not chew the cud): ... blood products}}</ref> and European Union,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2001/999/oj/eng |title=Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies |website=EUR-Lex |date=12 March 2025 |access-date=24 December 2025}}</ref> in part due to the risk posed by transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

=== 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Using Blood Meal To Improve Your Garden Soil|url=https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/organic/blood-meal-fertilizer.htm}}</ref> Blood meal is sometimes used as a composting activator.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://web.extension.illinois.edu/homecompost/materials.cfm |website=University of Illinois Extension |title=Composting For The Home Owner - Materials |access-date=2 September 2016 |archive-date=3 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903132341/https://web.extension.illinois.edu/homecompost/materials.cfm }}</ref>

=== 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.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Fern Marshall |last1=Bradley |first2=Barbara W. |last2=Ellis |year=1997 |title=Review: Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener |publisher=Rodale Press |isbn=978-0-87596-743-1 |page=11}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1=Leandre |last1=Poisson |first2=Gretchen |last2=Vogel Poisson |year=1994 |title=Solar gardening: growing vegetables year-round the American intensive way |url=https://archive.org/details/solargardeninggr0000pois |url-access=registration |publisher=Chelsea Green Publishing |isbn=978-0-930031-69-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/solargardeninggr0000pois/page/103 103]}}</ref>

==Classifications== {{unreferenced section|date=December 2025}} *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.<ref>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</ref>

Blood meal is sometimes made from fish (this type of blood meal is categorized as a type of fish meal), mixed with bone meal (often branded as bone + blood meal), and other types. These types depend on the source and processing of the blood meal.

==See also== * Blood as food * Bone ash * Bone meal * {{section link |Hydroponics#Organic hydroponic solutions}} * Taboo food

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Soil improvers Category:Organic fertilizers Category:Animal products Category:By-products