Wow
I am not familiar with any fishmeal law changes in the law. I didn't know the history to which you are referring to. Can you direct me to a source for that history, so I can take a look. I am trying to be a pillar of knowledge in my community, so I try to research everything I hear that is relevant to our feed group. I believe organic fishmeal is the only way we are able to hit our 16% protein without Canola, Corn or Soy.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I might be able to avoid fishmeal too, I would love to hear formulation ideas. My group has enough volume, that the supplier will do custom formulations for us, but I am not knowledgeable enough to suggest feed substitutes etc..
Thanks for the info.
Scott Brown
www.phoenixorganicfeed.com
Hi Scott,
I am not sure if you can find publications for the old NOP rulings or not. In the early 90s the NOP disallowed fishmeal, because, originally we were not supposed to put animal protein byproducts in Organic grain mixes. A few years later, they changed their mind. In the early-mid 2000s, the NOP disallowed fishmeal once again. A few years later, the price of Organic protein products skyrocketed, and all of a sudden, the NOP wouldn't comment on the utilization of fishmeal in feed products. About a year later (2007 i believe), it was ok to use again. A lot of feed manufacturers still avoid using fishmeal. We are mostly worried that the ruling will change again. It always seems to be a topic of debate for organic certification. I know that my certification agency has a big problem with us using it in feed. We are still allowed, because, our certifier has to follow NOP guidelines. With that said, they do not like it.
The only other reason that we avoid fishmeal, is that, there is not a good stabilizer for it yet. That leaves us open to feed/food safety issues. Chances are slim, that there would be a problem. It is a little risky though.
As far as Organic approved protein sources go, no, there is not much way to avoid using at least one of those ingredients. I will give brief explanations of Organic Protein supplement choices that are available.
Field Peas- usually run between 16% and 22% protein. They are not very reliable for consistent protein. We usually use the lower average for formulating. Another problem with peas, is that, even though the "total crude protein" is 16-22%, the amino acid balance is way off for a typical chicken diet. As of this year, the NOP started regulating the use of Methionine supplements, which makes it even harder to develop a good diet with peas. With all of that said, Peas seem to work in a layer ration, if they are less than 20-25% of the mix.
Expelled Flax Meal- Probably one of the best choices out there, however, it can only be a maximum of 10% of the ration. Using more than 10% will turn your egg whites, brown. Expelled flax is usually 34-35% Protein.
Expelled Canola Meal - Also capped at no more than 10% of a ration. Nutrient composition is fairly close to flax meal. 35-36% protein. Fairly good amino acid balance for poultry. Shady history (as we know).
Sunflower Meal- Showed very low performance for production, and poor balance of amino acids. Also has palatability issues, and not for typical reasons..... Sunflower is almost like chocolate for chickens. They love it, however, they only want small amounts. Feeding very much sunflower meal, would be like us having chocolate and potatos for dinner.
Fishmeal- Very good amino acid balance, and very palatable. Usually 44-65% protein, depending on the type. High in heavy metals, and has a high potential for toxins. Because of this, it is always used in moderation, for chicken diets. Typically, less than 2.5% of the feed mix. In using 2.5% or less you- 1- minimize risk of spoilage 2- regulate the transfer of heavy metals, such as mercury, to safe levels.(They will directly transfer to the human consuming the product, if the chicken is getting more than their body can manage. It will go into the egg, not into the feces.) 3- Add enough methionine and lysine to balance a typical layer feed mix. Fishmeal works excellent as a protein supplement, and I do recommend it as an ingredient. It is, however, not a good idea to use very much of it.
Soy- As much as I hate to say, soy is the best performing protein supplement in poultry diets. It absolutely crushes the other ingredients for highest production performance, best digestibility, and lowest mortality (especially in meat bird diets). There is a reason that it is a staple ingredient in poultry diets. It is not because it is cheap. It is actually more expensive than using the alternatives. It is not because it is easier to grow, or that it growes better in the US. It is actually harder than most other options. It is because it works, and provides the best ratio of performance and cost.
Unfortunately, as we know, it has potential health risks.
I know I may have scared you a little bit, about fishmeal, with the statement above. However, there are scary facts about every feed ingredient out there. It is up to us, to balance the risk. Hopefully, we will see more Organic protein choices in the next few years. (maybe even see some fishmeal from an
Organic fish raising operation, instead of getting any old fishmeal, from any fish processing operation)
