Fish meal is primarily manufactured through a specific series of actions involving cooking, pressing, drying, and milling fish material.
The Fish Meal Manufacturing Process
Producing fish meal for fish feed involves transforming raw fish or fish waste into a stable, high-protein product. This transformation follows a standard sequence of operations designed to remove water and oil while preserving the nutritional value.
Key Stages of Fish Meal Production
The process fundamentally consists of four main stages, as described in the manufacturing method:
- Cooking: This is the initial heat treatment. The raw fish material is cooked, generally at around 85-90°C. Cooking helps to coagulate the protein, release oil from the fat cells, and kill harmful bacteria, effectively sterilizing the product.
- Pressing: After cooking, the material is transferred to a press, typically a screw press. This crucial step involves separating the solid material from the liquid phase. According to the manufacturing process description, in the press, liquids are removed and a solid mass called a “press-cake” is obtained.
- Drying: The press-cake contains significantly less water and oil than the raw material but still needs to be dried further to prevent spoilage during storage. Drying reduces the moisture content to a level that inhibits microbial growth.
- Milling: The final step is milling, where the dried material is ground into a fine powder or granules. This creates the finished fish meal product, which is suitable for incorporation into animal and fish feeds.
This sequential process ensures that the resulting fish meal is a stable, concentrated source of protein and other nutrients for use in feed formulations.
| Step | Action / Temperature | Outcome / Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Cook | ~85-90°C heat | Sterilize, coagulate protein, release oil |
| Press | Screw press | Remove liquids, obtain "press-cake" |
| Dry | Heat (typical) | Reduce moisture content for preservation |
| Mill | Grinding | Create fine powder/granules (finished fish meal) |
