List of Animal By-products

There are many animal by-products with various uses depending on the type of animal. These include: fat, hides/skin, blood, wool/fur, horns, eggs, gelatin, feathers and undressed tails of animals. Animal organs such as the pancreas, bones, blood, pituitary gland, and liver are used for extracting many pharmaceutical substances. The by-products are explained below-

1. Fats: The tires of vehicles are manufactured from stearic acid, which is derived from fat. Glycerol, a byproduct of animal fat is used in the production of toothpaste, antifreeze, plastics, and paints. Fatty acids derived from animal fat are important in the production of soap and detergents, herbicides, asphalt, and insecticides. It is also an ingredient in paints and lubricants. Even in car polish, shaving creams, perfumes, and deodorants, the fatty acid is used. Rendered animal fat known as Tallow was initially used in the production of candles and soaps but has now gained application in the production of lipsticks and banknotes made of polymer. Tallow is used for these purposes because it is common and readily available and it is waxy in nature. In summary, products manufactured from Fats include: candles, linoleum, shoe cream. cellophane, mouthwash, shaving cream, ceramics, detergents and soaps, cosmetics, synthetic rubber, pet foods, crayons, floor wax, deodorants, perfumes, toothpaste, insecticides, paints, paper and insulation plastics.
2. Hides and Skin: This is derived from the skin of cattle, sheep, goat, rabbit and pig; which can be used in manufacturing bags, shoes, ropes, drums; worn as ornaments, used in house decoration, and as a source of income.
3. Blood: Adhesives for making plywood or wood veneer are produced using albumen in blood plasma. Blood is also used in making blood biscuits, blood meals, and blood sausages. Some human blood substitutes are produced from animal blood and even some reagents used for laboratory tests are produced from the blood of animals.
4. Wool and Fur: Wool or fleece derived from sheep, fur from rabbits and cashmere from goats are products found on the body of these farm animals. They are used for manufacturing brushes, clothing, blankets and rugs.
5. Horns: Horns found on the head region of cattle, sheep and goats are used industrially for producing knife handles, belts, as ornaments, in making fertilizer, as feed for livestock and as a weapon of defense by the animals.
6. Eggs: Eggs commonly produced from poultry like domestic fowl, geese, turkey and guinea fowl can be used in pharmaceutical industries. Eggs can be used industrially in making adhesives, scouring powder, animal feed, as cosmetics, vaccines, paints and inks. Ovum oil (also called egg oil or egg yolk oil) is used as a preservative (antibacterial agent) and also serves as a skin conditioner and moisturizer. Lecithin is an additive found in many foods and can be extracted from eggs; there are other animal and plant sources of lecithin as well.
7. Gelatin: Gelatin is an edible livestock by-product obtained from the skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments of pigs or cattle. It is made by boiling these animal parts in water. It has numerous applications or uses in the cosmetic and beauty industry as well as the food industry. Gelatin is used in so many food recipes such as gelatin desserts, making candies, marshmallows, jellies, and ice creams; it is also useful in the production of ointments, cosmetics, making of the covering for capsules, photographic films, and in paper production. The head of match sticks uses gelatin as a binder and also used in making sandpaper.
8. Milk: Milk gotten through the mammary glands of cow, ewe, doe and sow manually or through the use of machines are made fit for consumption by man through a method called pasteurization. Another name for products derived from milk is Lacticinia; Milk as a by-product of livestock has numerous uses. Some of which may include: the production of cheese, production of , butter, double cream, or any type of cream used in baking, for , and casein, a protein obtained from milk is used for the production of latex condoms and also important for tooth repair in dentistry. Casein is also used as a base for making paints, plastics, and glues.
9. Whey: Whey is the liquid part of milk that is produced after the cheese has been made. The whey is rich in protein and very important in the manufacture of whipping agents, emulsifiers, and water-binders.
10. Tail of Animal: Man uses the tails of animals with hairs such as cattle, sheep, goat, pig and rabbit as food, as whip, and for traditional outing. The animals use them for protection, driving away flies and for communication.
11. Feathers: On the body, wing and tail areas in poultry, feathers are found. The feathers keep the birds warm; help them for flight and for body protection too. Man uses the feathers in making pillows, cushions, mattresses and dusters.