Principles in Manufacture of Blood Meal

PRINCIPLES IN MANUFACTURE OF BLOOD MEAL

The simple principle in the manufacture of blood meal is as follows:

  • Blood collection
    • Blood should be collected in such a way as to avoid floor washings, detergents, insecticides or any other extraneous material.
  • Storage and transport
    • Whole blood may be properly mixed with equal amount of rice bran, which will absorb it.
    • Such a mass can be transported in gunny bags in rainy or low sun season, whereas it can be dried in summer or hot sun on a concrete platform to nearly 10-12 % moisture.
    • To whole blood, 1% quick lime is added by weight, which will give it a black rubber like consistency.
    • This mass will not adhere to the transport containers, keep well for 24 hours and it will not attract flies.
    • Addition of lime also increases the calcium of the end product.
    • Alternatively, common salt can be added @ 20% of the blood by weight to increase its storage life and enable safe transport to the plant.
  • Coagulation by heating
    • The blood should not be charred.
    • The blood will turn black. It should be boiled for 15 to 20 minutes to destroy pathogenic organisms.
    • Injecting live steam may coagulate the blood.
  • Pressing
    • Blood mass is collected in Hessian bags or any other porous bags, hung and 40 to 45% of moisture from blood can be squeezed out simply by pressing.
    • This reduces the time and expense of drying.
  • Drying
    • Blood can be dried in the sun on concrete floors.
    • Many methods of mechanical driers can be also employed.
    • Up to this process it should be done quickly to avoid nutrient or quality loss. Drying is done in two methods
    • Sun drying
      • In hot and dry climate, pressed blood mass can be dried by spreading in shallow trays.
    • Cabinet drying
      • In pilot plant, a cabinet drier with steam coils at the bottom and exhaust fan at the top can accommodate many trays at a time and remove the moisture efficiently.
  • Cooling
    • Sun dried blood can be milled immediately. But blood dried by other methods should be allowed to cool.
  • Milling
    • For preparing stock feed, the blood is milled. Any hammer mill can be used.
    • If preservation is done, 3% salt is to be added. Rapid chilling is required.
  • Fumigation
    • Blood meal can be disinfected with methyl bromide, ethylene oxide, etc., for long-term storage.
  • Packaging
    • Blood meal is packed in polyethylene bags or airtight containers.
    • It is advised to avoid undue exposure to high temperature and moisture during storage.
    • Lime treated blood meal has a storage life of several months.
Last modified: Thursday, 16 September 2010, 6:19 AM