Co-products compendium

MLA's co-products program has conducted many studies relevant to animal co-products processing. The program has looked at major technical, supply chain and commercial issues around co-products and its processing including rendering in detail. This compendium is a compilation of all such research and development undertaken.

The are 7 sections in total;

• Overview 

Meat is now the most valuable product from sheep and cattle production. However, co-products also make a contribution to the revenue generated by meat production. For example, for prices in July 2009, co-products represent about 14% of the total value of saleable product from cattle.

• Edible offal 

Edible offal usually provides the best return for non-carcase components. However, this is not always the case because processing and packaging costs may make recovery of edible offal products less profitable than other outlets. However, where recovery of edible offal is the most profitable outlet for non-carcase parts, it is in the interests of abattoirs to maximise the recovery of edible offal rather than allow the offal to slip through to lower value uses such as rendering and pet food.

• Rendered products 

In view of the relatively low value of rendered products it is generally more profitable to maximise alternative uses of co-products, such as edible offal and pet food, and minimise the amount of raw material that is rendered. However, rendering provides a means of dealing profitability with the bulk of co-products which otherwise have no value and could face a disposal cost.

• Pet food 

Pet food is probably the most profitable use of teh not for human consumption co-products fo red meat production. Products used in the pet food industry include chilled and frozen offals, mainly liver and lungs, meat meal and tallow. Offal items sold as pet food may be fit for human consumption or may be downgraded from human consumption due to minor defects and blemishes.

•  Hides and skins 

Australia is a major supplier of salted and wet-blue hides and salted skins to world markets. Hide is the term applied to the covering of large animals whereas skin normally refers to the covering of small animals. Pelt generally refers to a part-processed sheep skin called a pickled pelt, which is a skin with the wool removed and preserved by pickling in acid and salt.

• Alternative co-products 

MLA studies have also focused in alternative uses for co-products which could provide improved returns from co-products. The revenue from co-product items if rendered is about $200-500 depending on fat and bone content. Some co-products items could provide better returns if other uses are developed.

• Summary of co-products program reports 

Updates of previous projects undertaken in the co-products area.