Processed Animal Proteins (PAPs) are a healthy, sustainable and safe feed ingredient made from Category 3 animal by-products. They are used in livestock feed, aquafeed and petfood in Europe as well as being exported internationally.
Uses of PAP – Pigs and Poultry
Since September 2021, poultry PAPs can be used in pig diets and porcine PAPs can be used in poultry diets. Inclusion rates in feed are typically in the range of 5-10%. PAPs are nutritious with a good amino acid profile.
There are a number of nutritional, welfare and sustainability benefits from using PAPs. Follow the links to learn more.
Success using PAP in livestock feed
In September 2021, the European Union partially lifted the feed ban for PAP (Processed Animal Protein). Allowing the use of poultry PAP in pig feed and porcine PAP in poultry feed, intra-species consumption remains prohibited. The use of both types of PAP has been permitted in aquaculture since 2017. To avoid possible cross-contamination, there are […]
Life Cycle Assessment of Rendered Products: Carbon and Water Footprints
Rendering converts animal by-products from the meat and livestock industry into high value, sustainable products with a range of applications, such as animal feed and pet food. Rendering makes a significant contribution to European circular economy objectives by ensuring that animal by-products are not wasted, and the derived products are returned to the value chain. […]
Research summary of PAPs in poultry diets
Processed Animal Proteins (PAPs) were banned from diets of farmed animals in the EU for approximately 20 years. During this time processing techniques for animal proteins have changed and improved. Consequently, the specifications of products in feedstuff tables do not accurately represent the composition and quality of available PAPs. Amendments to the feed ban came […]
Summary of research on PAPs in pig diets
Processed Animal Proteins (PAPs) were banned from diets of farmed animals in the EU for approximately 20 years. During this time processing techniques for animal proteins have changed and improved. Consequently, the specifications of products in feedstuff tables do not accurately represent the composition and quality of available PAPs. Since September 2021, amendments to the […]
Aquafeed
Salmon is the main fish reared by European aquaculture producers. It is a carnivorous fish that eats insects, aquatic inverterbates and smaller fish in the wild. PAPs are a suitable feed ingredient to replace these sources of protein in an aquaculture diet.
Aquafeed has included non-ruminant PAPs since 2013. They have a better nutritional profile than vegetable proteins and reduce demand for fishmeal from caught wild fish. Rendered fats are also used in aquafeed.


Pet food
Around half of all households own a pet. Many common pets including cats and dogs are naturally carnivorous so need a diet that is rich in protein.
PAPs have excellent nutrition and flavour for pet food. As PAPs come from by-products they have a low carbon footprint compared to meat and some vegetable sources of protein such as soya from recently deforested areas. For environmentally conscious pet owners, this is an important benefit of feed containing PAPs.
Rendered fat is also used in pet food and help ensure that pets have a safe, healthy and nutritious diet.