Fish Meal in Dog Food - Dog Nutrition DB

Fish meal in dog food is a common ingredient and a rich source of digestible protein, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Contents

What is Fish Meal?

Fish meal is a very common ingredient in dog foods^[8]. Each year, the pet food industry processes about 59.050 tons of fish meal^[6].

This rendered fish ingredient product is included to provide a concentrated source of protein and fatty acids. It is used in many different applications, from livestock feed to aquaculture or pet foods.

Fish meal is a brown powder made by cooking, pressing, drying, and grinding cuttings or whole fish, including bones and offal^[1].

Fish meal is rich in essential amino acids, readily available, and competitively priced against other animal proteins.

This ingredient can come from a variety of fish, including salmon, herring, anchovy, and more. There are some named fish meals available to manufacturers such as salmon meal.

But the majority of fish meal comes from unspecified sources and has no name “descriptive of its kind“. That is because of the immense variety of fish that are harvested seasonally for fish meal.

Virtually any fish in the sea can be used to make fish meal, but most of it is made from small, bony, oily fish like anchovy, sardines, herring, menhaden, capelin, blue whiting, pollack, etc.

Some manufacturers call it “ocean fish meal” although fish meal is almost exclusively made from marine fish.

One of the few freshwater fish meals used in dog foods is catfish meal sourced from the Mississippi delta^[2].

The fish meals most available to the US pet food industry are menhaden meals, capelin and herring meals from the North Atlantic, and mackerel meal from Chile^[2].

These are fish that aren’t in high demand for human consumption. Instead, they’re harvested at scale for processing into fish meal and fish oil.

Global fish meal production is dominated by a handful of top producers. Peru leads the production followed by China, Chile, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.

Named fish meals such as tuna meal, on the other hand, are often produced from discarded whole fish or fish offal, trimmings, and other wastes from the filleting and canning industry.

Today, about 27% of fishmeal and 48% of fish oil actually come from by-products of processing wild-caught or aquaculture fish, not fresh catch^[6].

Although named ingredients provide more transparency about the actual source of ingredients, generic “fish meal” is still a valuable ingredient and is mainly produced from ocean fish.

During the production process, the fish’s raw material is ground, cooked, and then pressed to remove excess water and separate fish oil. Most fish meals have been at least partially defatted.

While fish meal is a widely used ingredient, some pet owners are concerned about its safety and nutritional value.

Some worry that fish meal may contain harmful contaminants, while others question the quality of an unnamed fish ingredient.

The quality of fish meal can vary depending on the source of the fish and the processing methods used. There can be substantial differences in the fatty acid profile or ash levels^[2].

Some lower-quality fish meals may overall contain more bones or skin while higher-quality fish meals are made from whole fish, fish trimmings, or more nutritious by-products.

However, many experts agree that fish meal is a safe and nutritious ingredient in dog food when sourced from reputable suppliers and used in appropriate amounts.

Benefits of Fish Meal

Fish meal is often used in dog food because it is a high-quality source of protein. It is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for maintaining healthy skin and coat.

The composition of the final product depends on the kind of raw material and the processing method.

Typically, fish meal contains 5-12% of residual fish oil.

Additionally, fish meal can provide vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, vitamin B¹², and selenium.

A good quality fish meal contains about 60-72% crude protein by weight. It’s also a source of minerals, including calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, and trace elements like zinc, iodine, and iron.

One of the most significant benefits of fish meal is that it contains all the essential amino acids that dogs need in their diet to thrive.

The protein in fish meal is highly digestible compared to other meals, which means that dogs can absorb and use it efficiently^[3].

This makes it ideal to balance out the incomplete amino acid profiles from plant proteins such as pulses, cereal grains or soy which are, whether you like it or not, widely used in pet foods.

Additionally, fish meal is a popular source of polyunsaturated omega-6 or omega-3 fatty acids such as linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Fish meal made from fatty fish can contain about 71% protein, 9% fat, 8% water, and 12% minerals. Meanwhile, a white fish meal will contain about 66% protein, 5% fat, 8% water, and 21% minerals^[5].

Last but not least, dogs like the flavor of fish meal.

Overall, fish meal is a valuable protein source that’s rich in essential amino acids, minerals, and fatty acids.

Is Fish Meal Safe For Dogs?

While fish meal has many benefits, there are also some potential drawbacks to using it in dog food:

Potential for contamination: Fish meal can be made from a variety of fish, some of which may contain high levels of toxins like mercury and PCBs. In general: The higher up the food chain the higher the risk a fish could accumulate pollutants during his lifetime. Fortunately, the many small forage fish that go into fish meal are usually at the bottom of the food chain.
Antioxidants: Fish meal is so high in polyunsaturated fatty acids that it is very sensitive to oxidation, which can cause it to go rancid very quickly and it has even been known to self-ignite^[9]! Therefore, manufacturers often add multiple doses of synthetic antioxidants such as ethoxyquin to fish meals^[2,10].
Environmental concerns: The fishing industry has a significant impact on the environment, and some types of fishing practices are more sustainable than others. If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of your dog’s food, look for brands that use sustainably sourced fish.

What is Fish Meal?

Benefits of Fish Meal

Is Fish Meal Safe For Dogs?

Further Reading