Blood meal

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. 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

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.[1] Prior to use, it is sometimes mixed with molasses.[2]

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 much 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.

Pest control

Blood meal can be spread on gardens to deter animals such as rabbits,[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ Henry, William Arnon; Morrison, Frank Barron (1915). Feeds and feeding: a hand-book for the student and stockman. Henry-Morrison. p. 184.
  2. ↑ 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. PMID 9719848.
  3. ↑ "Using Blood Meal To Improve Your Garden Soil".
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.

See also

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