Beef meal is a common ingredient in many commercial dog foods As pet parents, we want to know exactly what ingredients are in our dogs’ food. Beef meal often raises questions – what is it really made of? Is it good for dogs or should it be avoided? This article provides a detailed explanation of beef meal so you can understand what it is and make informed choices about your dog’s diet
What is Beef Meal?
Beef meal is a dried, concentrated form of beef that has had most of the water and fat removed. To make beef meal, fresh beef is first cooked at high temperatures to separate fat and water from the meat. Next, the remaining meat material is pressed to remove additional fat. Finally, the concentrated meat leftovers are dried, ground into a powder, and used as an ingredient in dog food.
The result is a powdery, concentrated form of beef containing around 65% protein, 10% moisture/water and 25% minerals and fat. Since most of the water is removed, beef meal contains much more protein per ounce compared to fresh beef. Removing the water also makes beef meal very shelf-stable so it lasts a long time without spoiling. These attributes make it a useful ingredient for manufacturing dry dog kibble.
Why Use Beef Meal in Dog Food?
There are several reasons beef meal is commonly added to dog foods
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Concentrated protein source – With most water removed, beef meal packs a big protein punch and helps meet dogs’ high protein needs.
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Enhanced shelf life – The low moisture content prevents spoilage, allowing dry dog foods to be stored and transported easily. Fresh meats would go bad much more quickly.
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Digestibility – Beef meal is extremely digestible for dogs compared to fresh beef. The rendering process breaks proteins down into peptides and amino acids that dogs can readily absorb.
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Manufacturing ease – Dried powders like beef meal blend into dry dog food easily compared to fresh meats. This allows for a consistent product.
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Flavor – Dogs love the umami, meaty taste provided by beef meals. It makes the food more palatable and appealing.
What is Included in Beef Meal?
AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) provides guidelines on what can legally be included in beef meal:
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Beef flesh
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Beef organ meats (liver, kidneys, spleen, etc)
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Beef bones
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Excess fat and connective tissues
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Unavoidable amounts of blood, hair, stomach/intestines
Items legally not allowed in beef meal:
- Horn, hide, manure, rumen (stomach) contents
So beef meal contains beef muscles, organs, and bones that are not served for human consumption. The overall product is wholesome and nutritious for dogs.
Is Beef Meal Lower Quality than Fresh Beef?
Some pet parents turn up their noses at beef meal because it sounds unappealing compared to fresh, raw beef. However, this perception is misguided. Here’s why beef meal is not an inferior ingredient:
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Made from beef cows approved for human consumption, though not prime cuts
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Nutritionally similar to fresh beef, but more concentrated
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Cooking and drying process kills bacteria and makes it very digestible
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No horns, manure, etc. allowed
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Very shelf-stable so it avoids spoilage
When you understand how it’s made, beef meal is perfectly fine for dogs! The biggest difference from fresh beef is lower moisture content. Nutritionally, it is similar.
Potential Concerns About Beef Meal
While quality-made beef meal is nutritious for dogs, there are a couple things to be aware of:
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Inadequate labeling – “Meat meal” is generic, so try to choose foods with specifically labeled beef meal.
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Rendering contaminants – Extremely high cooking temperatures could potentially produce minute amounts of carcinogens or other contaminants if the process isn’t well controlled. However, there is no evidence of harm to dogs thus far.
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Allergies – As with any protein source, some dogs may be allergic to beef-based ingredients.
Overall, these are minor concerns for most healthy dogs eating commercial dog foods containing beef meal. But dogs with allergies may need to avoid this ingredient.
How to Choose Dog Foods With Beef Meal
When shopping for a beef meal-containing dog food, follow these tips:
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Look for beef meal specifically listed, not just “meat meal”.
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Make sure it is not lumped under by-products.
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Buy from reputable brands following quality manufacturing processes.
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See where the brand’s food is made. Food made locally may allow for better quality control.
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Contact manufacturers with any questions or concerns about their beef meal suppliers and processes.
Choosing transparent brands and asking questions gives peace of mind about any potential health risks of beef meal.
Beef Meal vs Fresh Beef: Which is Better?
Both fresh beef and beef meal can have a place in dogs’ diets. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Fresh Beef | Beef Meal | |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture | High (~75%) | Low (~10%) |
| Protein | 20% | 65% |
| Spoils easily? | Yes | No |
| Manufacturing use | Wet or fresh foods | Dry kibble |
| Digestibility | Moderate | High |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
Beef meal offers more concentrated nutrition pound-for-pound. But fresh beef provides moisture and different textures. Using both can allow formulating diets with optimal nutrition, moisture, and palatability.
The Verdict on Beef Meal
Despite the unappealing thought of rendered meat parts, beef meal itself is a safe, healthy, and useful ingredient for commercial dog foods. It provides a concentrated source of natural protein and beef flavor that dogs’ love.
Beef meal should not be feared or avoided unless your individual dog has a verified allergy. When choosing a dog food with beef meal, look for transparency and specificity on the label. But overall, beef meal can be part of a balanced diet for dogs!
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FAQ
What exactly is beef meal?
Unlike fresh alternatives, meat meal is made from parts of animals that aren’t allowed to be sold for human consumption; things like residual meat, offal, connective tissues and, in some cases, bones. These ingredients are cooked at extremely high temperatures and essentially dehydrated down to a dry, brown powder.
Is beef meal good for your dog?
But perhaps more importantly, beef meal and chicken meal are easily digestible, nutrient-rich sources of protein and minerals that help your pets stay active and fit. Also, because beef meal and chicken meal are dried and ground to uniform sized particles, they can be easily incorporated into dry pet foods.
What does meal mean in dog food?
Meals in dog food, such as poultry meal or fish meal, are concentrated sources of protein. Protein is essential for the growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues, muscles, and organs in dogs. High-quality protein supports overall canine health and contributes to a shiny coat and healthy skin.
What is the difference between meat by-product and meat meal?
By-product is discarded cuts and meal is ground up bones tendons and by-products mixed together. They have necessary components in a dogs diet inside of them. Meal is just ground up and precooked and easier to use straight up. This is all from independent research so it may not be correct.
What is a meat meal?
Here’s why. Meat meal is a dried end-product of the cooking process known as rendering. Rendering is a lot like making stew — except that this stew is intentionally over-cooked. With rendering, you start with a meat stew, cook away the water and bake the residue. And you end up with a highly concentrated protein powder — or meat meal.
What is the difference between beef and beef meal?
Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle, while beef meal is rendered cattle meat that has been dried and ground up. The difference lies in the fact that beef is fresh meat, while beef meal is processed meat.
What is beef meal made of?
Beef meal is made of crude meat with little water, fats, and minerals. It is similar to other meat meal ingredients like chicken meal, which is made of 65% protein, 10% water, and 25% fats and minerals. This proportion is a common practice for meat rendering.
Is meat meal a derivative of meat?
Since meat meal isn’t whole meat, many dog owners assume that it’s a derivative of meat, similar to by-products. However, this isn’t exactly true. Quality meat meal can actually be a great ingredient in most dog foods because it is a concentrated form of meat that has gone through a rendering process.
What is a meat meal in dog food?
There are several ingredients of meat meals, such as fish, chicken, and beef. The latter is the most popular. Meat meals are a good protein source for omnivorous animals such as dogs.
Is a beef meal the same as a chicken meal?
Beef Meal and Chicken Meal may contain different parts of the cow and chicken, but they are not the same as the beef or chicken found in human food. Pet food manufacturers are not required to disclose the specific animal parts used in their ‘meat’ meals. What exactly is a ‘meat’ meal?