Livestock co-products or animal co-products are materials that are obtained from animals during the manufacturing process; co-products are expected or desired to be produced during processing and the steps to achieving the co-products are similar to that of the final product; whereas livestock byproducts refer to the materials obtained after processing and maybe accidental product that needs to be processed differently from the intended product. When used as ingredients in production, animal by products can be referred to as animal-derived ingredients. Products formed from the decomposition of animals such as (gas or coal) or petroleum is not considered to be animal by-products. These terms are sometimes used interchangeably; the important thing to note is that both co-products and byproducts of animals are all derived or obtained from animals and both are useful. Animal by-products (ABPs) are materials of animal origin that people do not consume.
ABPs include among others:
- All parts of an animal slaughtered for human consumption, which some are not edible or not placed on the market as food for example the skin, bones, horn and hooves, blood, fat and offal
- Bodies of dead pet animals.
- Materials produced by animals such as manure, guano, egg shells, feathers, wool, beeswax
- Former foodstuff of animal origin such as milk, eggs, meat that for some reason is not suitable for human consumption (commercial reasons, quality, production failures etc.).
Economic and Environmental Importance of Livestock By-Products
- Efficient use of animal by-products such as bones or skin has a great economic benefit and also helps control environmental pollution by reducing the cost of waste disposal.
- The by-products can be processed and sold to earn money.
- Some can be exported and therefore helps the GDP of the country.
