Fish meal is a feed raw material with very high protein content and obtained from fish residues and fish that are not used as human food. It was also used as a fertilizer in ancient times due to its unique nutritional elements. However, the value of fish meal has been understood over time and has been included in the feed content of all farm animals, especially fish, chicken and pigs. Many people who wonder what fish meal is, are doing research on the internet.
Fish meal is usually obtained from fish such as herring, cod, sprat, anchovy. The most important raw material preferred for this purpose in our country is naturally anchovy. Although the amount of anchovy caught in our country for years varies in total, it is always the most caught fish species compared to other species.
Since it is not possible to consume the entire amount of anchovy caught as human food, some of this valuable nutrient is converted into fish meal and fish oil. The purpose of using fish meals varies according to many different fields. Among the most important raw materials in the production of fish meal are the residues left after the processing of the fish used in the industry. These residues are sometimes directly turned into flour as fish residue meal. Sometimes, this residual material can be added to other fish from which flour will be obtained, and flour can be produced from the mixture obtained. The water salt, which is usually found in fish meal, is below 7%. There are varieties of fishmeal that can be classified as salty or less salty in terms of the salt. Flour making is also among the usage areas of fish flour. Oily fish, which is frequently used in flour making, is usually made into flour after degreasing has become a part of the process. In this way, a fish meal with a high protein value can be obtained.
Fish meal is a very good nutrient in terms of essential amino acids. Mainly essential amino acids lysine, phenylalanine, cysteine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, valine, tryptophan, histidine and arginine are found in a fish meal in different proportions.