Fish meal: Supply, preservation biggest challenges for dog and cat diets

Fish meal remains a high-quality source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, but supply and preservation challenges may force pet food to be more pragmatic in their choices.

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Fish meal has significant protein value as a pet food ingredient, but current sustainability and preservation issues make it a more complicated topic than it used to be. | Thor Jorgen Udvang, Dreamstime.com
Fish meal has significant protein value as a pet food ingredient, but current sustainability and preservation issues make it a more complicated topic than it used to be. | Thor Jorgen Udvang, Dreamstime.com

Fish meal from marine sources is a valuable ingredient for pet food. It delivers high-quality amino acids in the protein matrix, has nutritionally available minerals, and the residual fat carries a meaningful load of omega-3 fatty acids. The flavor is well accepted by dogs and cats and it has been reasonably priced, if not slightly higher, than most protein meals. There are a wide variety of fish meal products being used in pet foods today — from generic to more species-specific. Fish like salmon, herring and pollock are being used as “named” ingredients. They are especially well-liked in the limited-ingredient diet formats. While they are all “fish meal” from a categorical perspective, each has a unique proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid profile, and must be considered individually when formulating a diet. 

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