For centuries tallow was essential to soap and candle making. Not until the late 20th century was fat from ruminants considered as a feed ingredient. Before then, it was much too rare and valuable. Now there is a surplus of tallow due to increased demand for ruminant meats, development of a sophisticated rendering infrastructure and an increased volume of competing vegetable fats and oils.
Tallow
For centuries tallow was essential to soap and candle making. Not until the late 20th century was fat from ruminants considered as a feed ingredient. Before then, it was much too rare and valuable.
