Meat and bone meal is a dry rendered product made from mammalian tissues including muscle, organ, and bone, produced by cooking and drying slaughterhouse by-products and then grinding them into a fine powder. It is used as a concentrated protein and calcium source in commercial dry pet foods and treats. The source species may be beef, pork, or a blend of mammals, and the label "meat and bone meal" is used when the species is not specified.
Meat and bone meal is distinct from fresh meat: it has much lower moisture content and higher protein and mineral concentration by weight. It is a regulated ingredient governed by AAFCO definitions and is commonly used in dry dog food formulas.
