Bone Meal

These products, which constitute the important raw material source of poultry compound feeds, contain a combination of high quality protein, amino acids, phosphorus and minerals. Meat and bone meal (excluding blood, clay, nails, horns and skin) is a rendering product obtained from mammalian tissues, including bone. Rendering products are expressed in two groups: "animal proteins" and "fat". It is an invariable fact that meat and bone meal is an economical feed raw material for all types of poultry. Poultry compound feed has the feature of being one of the most important raw material sources. This is because it contains a beneficial combination of high-quality protein, critical amino acids, available phosphorus and other essential minerals. In addition, meat bone meal is a very valuable source of lysine. Animal proteins are an excellent source of energy and minerals, as well as being a source of amino acids and proteins. Meat bone meal is an important source of phosphorus, calcium and essential amino acids in the diet of laying hens. In a study conducted by De Heer (2004) on layer hens, it was observed that when the bone meal level of compound feed was increased from 2.5% to 3%, egg shell thickness and laying performance increased.