Menhaden Fishmeal

The menhaden reduction industry catches oily fish to make meal, oil and fish solubles. Cooking and pressing separate liquid from solids. Drying the solids turns a perishable catch into a protein ingredient that stores and ships.^6,7,8

1. 01 // Source Whole menhaden Vessels deliver whole menhaden to reduction plants, where the catch is weighed before processing.
2. 02 // Process Steam cooked The fish pass through steam cookers before the solids and liquid are separated.
3. 03 // Process Pressed A screw press sends liquid toward oil recovery and leaves moist fish solids called press cake.
4. 04 // Process Dried and ground The press cake is dried, then ground into particles suitable for mixing into feed.
5. 05 // Output Menhaden fishmeal The dry meal supplies protein and minerals, with some fat remaining after pressing.

1. 01

   Adds animal protein

   Cooking, pressing and drying remove water and much of the oil. The remaining meal adds concentrated fish protein and amino acids to the recipe.^4,5,6

2. 02

   Adds marine nutrients

   Menhaden meal contributes phosphorus and residual fish fat. Because oil is separated during processing, the meal's name does not tell you the finished food's EPA and DHA dose.^5,7,8

3. 03

   Supplies feed at scale

   The reduction fishery makes meal, oil and solubles from the same catch. That gives feed makers a supply of named marine protein, though a dog food's price advantage is unknown.⁷

How much A dog trial fed 2% unspecified fish meal with 0.4% fish oil, so it gives no menhaden-only dose.¹

1. Brands say

   Fishmeal supplies concentrated animal protein

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Across 17 menhaden meals, crude protein ran from 65 to 75.4% of dry matter. The protein contribution is real; the ingredient name does not disclose how much meal the finished food contains.^4,9

2. Owners say

   Fish can trigger food allergy in dogs

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A review found fish reactions in 5 of 297 dogs with identified food triggers. Those cases were not specific to menhaden, and the review could not estimate how common fish allergy is among dogs generally.³

3. Brands say

   Menhaden meal raises a dog's omega-3 level

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a 45-dog study, a diet with fish meal and added fish oil raised blood omega-3 levels after 4 weeks. The meal's species was unspecified, and the study cannot isolate the meal's effect.¹

4. Brands say

   Menhaden meal fixes itchy skin and coat

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A controlled crossover trial in 16 dogs found improvements with measured marine oil doses. It did not feed menhaden meal. An ingredient listing gives neither an EPA and DHA dose nor evidence that the meal treats itching.^2,8

5. Critics say

   Fishmeal is just filler

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Seventeen menhaden meals contained 65 to 75.4% crude protein on a dry matter basis. Calling that filler ignores its nutritional job. The useful question is how much the recipe uses.^4,9