Short answer: pick the lowest protein grade that meets your formulation, then judge the lot on ash, moisture, freshness and heat damage, not on the protein figure alone. Ask for the lot analysis before you commit.
1. Why the protein grade matters
Fish meal is made by cooking, pressing, drying and milling whole fish or fish-processing by-products. It is valued in feed for its concentrated, digestible protein, its amino acid profile, its minerals and its marine lipids. SS Global Commodities supplies marine fish meal in four crude protein grades so that a feed miller or nutritionist can match the specification to the formulation instead of accepting one fixed product.
Protein is a useful first filter, but it is not the whole story. Feedipedia describes fish meal as not a single uniform ingredient: composition and feeding value depend on the raw material and on processing quality. That is why the sections below look at the other numbers too.
2. The four grades at a glance
The table summarises the grades as listed on our marine fish meal page. Target applications describe typical use, not a guarantee of performance in your formulation.
| Grade | Crude protein | Typical target applications |
|---|---|---|
| 55% | 55% min | General livestock feed, ruminant supplements, cost-optimised feed blends |
| 60% | 60% min | Poultry rations, swine feed, starter diets, standard aquaculture mixes |
| 62% | 62% min | High-performance poultry diets, grower pig feed, specialised marine feeds |
| 65% | 65% min | Shrimp and carnivorous fish feeds, piglet starter feeds, premium poultry concentrate |
3. What all four grades share
Apart from crude protein, the main limits are the same across the four grades:
- Crude ash: below 18%
- Crude fat: max 12%
- Moisture: max 10%
- Salt (NaCl): max 3.5%
- Total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN): max 150 mg / 100 g
- Histamine: max 500 ppm
These are typical source-supplied ranges. Actual shipment lot analysis is issued on contract confirmation, and values can vary with origin and lot. The full list is in the technical specification table.
4. What to check besides protein
Independent references agree that fish meal should be bought on a set of analytical specifications rather than on one figure. The points below are the ones that most often separate a good lot from a poor one.
- Ash. Feedipedia notes that a high ash level often means a larger share of heads, frames or bones, and is associated with lower protein and energy. Read ash together with protein. Our limit is below 18% on every grade.
- Freshness of the raw material. FAO's technical paper on fish meal production stresses that the time between catching and processing, and keeping the fish cold, affect the quality of the protein in the finished meal. TVBN and histamine are the usual freshness indicators; Feedipedia reports that histamine in the finished meal is strongly influenced by how fresh the raw material was.
- Heat damage. Protein is sensitive to excessive heat in cooking and drying. FAO notes that a very dark brown colour with an acrid, scorched smell can indicate overheating, which damages nutritional quality without changing the protein percentage. Feedipedia adds that overheating can promote gizzerosine, which matters in poultry diets. This is a reason to ask for more than the protein figure.
- Oxidation. Residual marine lipids oxidise easily. Antioxidant treatment, controlled moisture and cool, dry storage help keep the meal stable. Our specification lists an antioxidant (ethoxyquin / BHT blend) at min 250 ppm.
- Amino acid profile and digestibility. Two meals with the same protein percentage can differ in available amino acids. Request the full analysis when your formulation is tight.
- Contaminant control. Feedipedia notes that fish meal can contain persistent contaminants such as dioxins, PCBs and some heavy metals, depending on species, fishing area and processing, and both Feedipedia and FAO note that cooked meal can be re-contaminated later (FAO gives Salmonella as the example) if storage and handling hygiene is poor. Ask how the lot is tested and stored.
- Adulteration. FAO's paper records that fish meal has occasionally been found adulterated with cheap diluents such as feather meal, non-protein nitrogen compounds or sand. This is one reason buyers rely on lot analysis rather than on a label.
5. Matching a grade to the animal
- Young animals and fish. FAO describes fish meal as of special value for young animals, such as broiler starters and early-weaned pigs, and for farmed fish. Higher-protein, fresher meals are usually chosen for these diets.
- Aquaculture. The OECD-FAO outlook, as reported by Feedipedia, puts aquaculture as the main outlet for fish meal (about 78% of use in the 2022–24 base period, projected to reach 84% by 2034). FAO reports that the share of fish meal in aquafeeds fell from 19% in 2000 to 9% in 2020, yet it remains useful for carnivorous species and young life stages.
- Pigs. Feedipedia describes the value as greatest for weaned and nursery pigs, and much less often justified for grower-finisher pigs and sows, where price and availability usually decide.
- Ruminants. Fish meal has a history as a source of rumen-undegradable protein, but Feedipedia notes that regulations restrict it in several regions (the EU and Australia are given as examples). Check the rules in your country before you order a grade for ruminant use.
6. Trade names versus analysis
Fish meal is often traded under names such as standard, FAQ, prime, super prime, LT or white fish meal. Feedipedia points out that these names are not fully standardised between origins, suppliers and markets, and that a named grade does not guarantee feeding value unless it is backed by analytical data and reliable origin and processing information. Treat names as a starting point and compare the numbers: crude protein, ash, moisture, fat, salt, freshness indicators and oxidation status.
7. Questions to ask before you choose
- What species and life stage is the feed for? Start from the target applications in section 2, then confirm with your nutritionist.
- What is your formulation target? Choose the grade whose minimum crude protein meets it, then check the shared limits (ash, fat, moisture) against your recipe.
- Is the feed for ruminants? If so, confirm local regulations first.
- Do you need the amino acid profile or other analysis? Ask for it; we do not publish it on the site.
- What volume do you need each month, and where should it go? Quantity and port affect the quotation.
8. What to send for a quotation
- The protein grade (55%, 60%, 62% or 65%)
- Estimated monthly quantity
- Destination country and port
- Any specification limits that matter for your formulation
Our commercial team will respond with supply details.
9. Frequently asked questions
Which protein grades of marine fish meal do you supply?
Four crude protein grades: 55%, 60%, 62% and 65%.
Is a higher protein grade always better?
Not necessarily. The right grade is the one that meets your formulation at an acceptable cost. Ash, freshness, heat damage and amino acid availability also affect feeding value, so protein alone does not decide suitability.
What is the crude ash limit?
Below 18% for all four grades.
How is the fish meal packed and stored?
PE-coated woven polypropylene bags, with bag weight and bulk container specifications supplied on order confirmation. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse away from direct sunlight, moisture and potential contaminants.
Will I receive a certificate of analysis?
Actual shipment lot analysis is issued upon contract confirmation. Ask our technical team about lot-specific certificates of analysis.
Can fish meal be used in ruminant feed?
That depends on your country's rules. Several regions restrict it, so confirm local regulations before ordering.
How do I request a price?
Use the quotation form, email sumanthans@ssgcommodities.com, or message us on WhatsApp at +1-613-324-3821.
Ready to request a quotation?
Tell us the grade, monthly quantity and destination port.
Sources
- Feedipedia, Fish meal datasheet (animal feed resources database): feedipedia.org/node/208. Read October 2026. The OECD-FAO and FAO figures above are as reported in this datasheet.
- FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 142, The production of fish meal and oil (FAO, Rome, 1986): fao.org/4/x6899e/x6899e00.htm. Read October 2026. This is an older paper; we use it only for general quality principles, not for current figures.