Learn everything about Chicken Protein Hydrolysate

Date: 17/09/2026

In the animal nutrition industry, Chicken Protein Hydrolysate (CPH) is used in formulations for pets, fish, and swine as a source of free amino acids and low-molecular-weight peptides. These components are obtained through enzymatic hydrolysis and can improve the diet's digestibility, solubility, and palatability.

The ingredient's composition and performance vary depending on the raw material, the enzymes used, and the control of the industrial process. Because of this, products sold under the same name can differ in amino acid profile, peptide size, microbiological safety, and batch-to-batch consistency.

In this article, you will find:

What is Chicken Protein Hydrolysate, and why is it different from other proteins?

Chicken Protein Hydrolysate (CPH) is an ingredient obtained through the controlled action of enzymes on proteins present in poultry slaughter residues, such as viscera, offal, and/or chicken meat. During enzymatic hydrolysis, proteases break some of the bonds linking amino acids and break down the protein chains into peptides of different sizes and free amino acids.

The process modifies the protein's structure but does not create new amino acids. Composition remains tied to the raw material, while the type of enzyme and the degree of hydrolysis influence the ratio between larger chains, low-molecular-weight peptides, and free amino acids. This is why hydrolyzed proteins from the same source can still show different characteristics.

In conventional protein, the longer chains need to be broken down by the animal's own digestive enzymes. The hydrolyzed version, on the other hand, has already gone through part of that cleavage process, which can make digestion and absorption easier. However, nutrient utilization also depends on the species, production stage, diet, and the ingredient's characteristics.

Hydrolysis can also increase the protein's solubility, favoring its dispersion in dry or liquid formulations. This attribute has technological importance but should not be treated as a synonym for digestibility or bioavailability.

The differences between the two forms of protein become clearer when their main attributes are compared:

Criterion	Conventional protein	Chicken Protein Hydrolysate
Structure	redominance of long protein chains	Mix of long chains, short-chain peptides, and free amino acids
Processing	Does not undergo a dedicated enzymatic hydrolysis step	Undergoes controlled hydrolysis with specific enzymes
Digestion	Requires greater chain fragmentation in the animal's digestive tract	Part of the fragmentation happens before consumption
Bioavailability	Depends on digestibility, absorption, and nutrient utilization	Can be favored by fragmentation, but needs to be evaluated in the specific product and species
Solubility	Varies depending on the source and processing	Can increase as chains are reduced, depending on the degree of hydrolysis and conditions of use
Use in formulation	Mainly acts as a source of protein and amino acids	Combines nutritional input, technological properties, and functionality. Besides favoring solubility and palatability, its bioactive peptides can perform specific functions in the body, depending on the ingredient's profile and the species.

How is Chicken Protein Hydrolysate made in the industry?

To keep the ingredient's composition and performance consistent from batch to batch, industrial production must control every stage, from raw material selection to the release of the finished product. The conditions applied at each stage affect the degree of hydrolysis, solubility, microbiological safety, and the overall characteristics of CPH.

Although the process flow can vary depending on the technology and the intended specification, the main stages include:

● Raw material receiving and preparation: the origin, storage conditions, and compliance of the material are checked before processing and standardization.
● Enzymatic hydrolysis: enzymes are added to the raw material to break some of the protein's bonds. Time, temperature, pH, and the type and concentration of the enzyme determine the degree of hydrolysis and the profile of the resulting peptides.
● Reaction stop: enzyme activity is halted at the set point to prevent the protein from being broken down further than necessary.
● Concentration and drying: the product goes through steps designed to adjust its composition, reduce moisture, and achieve a stable form for storage and application.
● Testing and batch release: physicochemical and microbiological parameters are compared against specifications before the product goes to market.

Microbiological monitoring covers receiving, processing, drying, storage, and shipping. Hygiene procedures, time and temperature control, recontamination prevention, and hazard analysis reduce risks and support process safety.

Traceability, in turn, links each finished batch to the origin of the raw material, the production parameters, and the test results. These records make it possible to investigate any deviations, identify the batches involved, and take corrective action more precisely.

At MBRF Ingredients, production of the BioActio line relies on a 100% integrated chain, which supports access to fresh raw materials and traceability of their origin. In 2024, the company’s hydrolysates unit, with an industrial plant located in Concórdia, Santa Catarina (Brazil), became the first Brazilian plant to receive ABRA’s “Que Aqui Tem Qualidade” (“Quality Is Here”) Accreditation. The program assesses requirements related to good manufacturing practices.

What is the difference between Chicken Protein Hydrolysate and Poultry Meal?

Although both have a poultry origin, Chicken Protein Hydrolysate and Poultry Meal show different characteristics depending on how they are processed. These differences affect nutritional and technological aspects such as protein structure, solubility, and use in formulations.

This comparison treats Chicken Protein Hydrolysate and Poultry Meal as separate categories. Standard and Low Ash are grades of the meal, each with its own composition and specifications. The table below shows how raw material, process, nutritional profile, and purpose set CPH apart from Poultry Meal:

Criterion	Chicken Protein Hydrolysate	Poultry Meal
Raw material and production process	Made from viscera, offal, and/or chicken meat, subjected to controlled enzymatic hydrolysis and then to stabilization and drying.	Made by cooking, pressing, and grinding poultry raw materials. The Low Ash grade uses viscera, offal, cartilage, and meat trimmings; the Standard grade may also contain bone.
Nutritional profile and amino acid availability	The amino acid profile is determined by the raw material. Hydrolysis changes how the protein is presented by generating free amino acids and short-chain peptides, which require fewer digestion steps.	The amino acids remain mostly bonded to one another, forming long protein chains that need to be broken down by digestive enzymes. The nutritional profile follows the composition defined for each grade.
Digestibility	Prior protein fragmentation can favor digestibility. The result should be confirmed according to the ingredient, species, and application.	Can show good digestibility, but the result depends on the raw materials, mineral matter content, and processing conditions.
Solubility	Tends to show higher solubility due to the presence of low-molecular-weight peptides. The degree of hydrolysis and later process steps also affect this parameter.	Generally shows lower solubility and tends to remain as dispersed particles, depending on particle size and composition.
Functionality in the formulation and in the body	Combines nutritional, technological, and physiological functions: it supplies protein and amino acids, favors solubility and palatability, and offers bioactive peptides associated with metabolic and immune processes, depending on the ingredient's profile.	Mainly acts as a protein source and can supply fats, minerals, and energy, depending on its composition.
Industrial applications	Used in premium pet food, diets formulated with hydrolyzed proteins, aquaculture, swine production, and feeds designed for specific nutritional needs.	Used as a protein source in feeds for pets, fish, shrimp, swine, and other authorized species.

These characteristics affect the inclusion level and the balance of the diet's other nutrients. Poultry meal can form the protein base of the formulation, while CPH tends to be chosen when the diet needs, beyond nutritional input, low-molecular-weight peptides, greater solubility and palatability, or functional properties linked to the action of bioactive peptides in the body.

For this reason, CPH and Poultry Meal should not be substituted for each other on a one-to-one basis based solely on crude protein content. The comparison needs to take into account the complete composition, the species, the production stage, the expected outcome, and the formulation's cost per unit of performance.

What is the amino acid profile of Chicken Protein Hydrolysate?

The amino acid profile shows which amino acids are present in the ingredient and in what proportion. To formulate accurately, it is also necessary to know the digestible fraction and identify which amino acid may limit the diet's ability to meet the species' and production stage's requirements.

Hydrolysis does not create essential amino acids or fix an unbalanced profile. When well controlled, it helps preserve the raw material's nutritional value and increase the presence of free amino acids and short-chain peptides. To evaluate the ingredient, request:

● Total amino acid composition;
● Essential amino acids and possible limiting factors;
● Amino acid digestibility for the intended application;
● Ratio of free amino acids to peptide-bound amino acids;
● Molecular weight distribution of the peptides;
● Batch-to-batch analytical variation.

A study published in 2025 in the Journal of Animal Science compared hydrolyzed protein, meat, broth, and meal, all from chicken. Sixteen roosters with surgically removed ceca — a model used to estimate amino acid digestibility for dogs and cats — each received one of the products; five additional fasted birds made it possible to correct for the body's natural losses.

Overall, chicken meat showed the highest standardized amino acid digestibility coefficients, followed by the hydrolyzed protein. For methionine, phenylalanine, valine, and lysine, meat and hydrolysate had higher digestibility than broth and meal. Because the test evaluated four specific ingredients in cecectomized roosters, the results describe the samples analyzed and should not be automatically extrapolated to all hydrolysates or directly to dogs and cats.

For BioActio Health & Performance, the amino acid profile in company material shows 22.50% free amino acids, and 95% of its peptides have a molecular weight below 10,000 Da (dalton, a unit of molecular weight). Based on this distribution, the product is presented as hypoallergenic.

Can Chicken Protein Hydrolysate replace other protein sources?

CPH can partially replace, or in specific applications fully replace, fishmeal, plasma, protein meals, and other animal proteins. The decision should not be based solely on crude protein equivalence, because the hydrolysate also adds solubility, palatability, and functionality through low-molecular-weight peptides and, depending on the product, bioactive peptides. Feasibility depends on the species' requirements, the digestible amino acid profile, energy, minerals, diet processing, and the formulation's goal.

In many formulas, the hydrolysate plays a strategic role at lower inclusion levels, while other sources supply most of the protein. Its contribution can be nutritional, sensory, and functional: peptides and free amino acids can favor digestibility and attractiveness, and bioactive peptides can act on metabolic and immune responses. The intensity of these effects needs to be measured in the complete diet and in the species of interest.

The economic decision should compare cost per unit produced, not just the ingredient's price per ton. Feed intake, feed conversion, survival, yield, process stability, and the need for reformulation all factor into that calculation.

In which industrial applications is Chicken Protein Hydrolysate used the most?

CPH's applications stem from the combination of protein contribution with nutritional, technological, and functional properties. Peptides and free amino acids can favor digestibility and palatability; solubility affects processing and dispersion; and bioactive peptides can act on metabolic and immune processes. The weight of each attribute and the inclusion level vary with the species, production stage, diet composition and processing, and the expected outcome.

Premium pet food and hypoallergenic diets

In pet food, hydrolyzed proteins can be used in highly digestible products, veterinary diets, and formulas that call for tighter protein control. A hydrolyzed hypoallergenic diet aims to provide protein chains of reduced size, but the outcome also depends on residual proteins and cross-contamination control.

Using hydrolyzed protein in premium food formulations can also combine nutritional value and functionality. The choice should consider species-specific evidence, compatibility with extrusion or surface application (coating), and acceptance, as with other pet food ingredients and additives.

Aquaculture and fishmeal replacement

Aquaculture requires sources that balance digestibility, attractiveness, and cost. According to the SOFIA 2026 report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aquatic animal production reached 103 million metric tons in 2024. As the segment grows, the search for stable, efficient ingredients increases. This growth also makes it strategic to evaluate complementary feed sources in formulations for fish and shrimp, with CPH standing out among them.

In aquaculture, partially or fully replacing fishmeal with CPH must be validated by species, production stage, and inclusion level. Beyond growth and feed conversion, R&D needs to monitor intake, survival, water quality, and pellet stability. Highly soluble fractions can favor attractiveness, but losses to the water must be controlled.

High-performance animal nutrition

In high-demand phases or during feed transitions, CPH can contribute free amino acids, low-molecular-weight peptides, and bioactive compounds. In swine diets, these characteristics can favor acceptance and nutrient utilization. The evaluation should include intake, digestibility, daily gain, and feed conversion, always within a balanced diet and under proper management.

BioActio Health & Performance is applied in swine, tilapia, shrimp, trout, dogs, and cats. Beyond acceptability and digestibility in swine and attractiveness in aquatic species, product data links the bioactive peptides to immunostimulant, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antihypertensive activities, and there are studies on immune and metabolic responses in pets. The magnitude of the results varies with species, inclusion level, formulation, diet processing, and management factors.

How to evaluate the quality of Chicken Protein Hydrolysate before buying?

A high crude protein content may stand out on the technical data sheet, but on its own it does not show how the ingredient will behave in the formulation. Digestibility, solubility, palatability, microbiological safety, and batch-to-batch consistency also affect feed processing, diet acceptance, and nutrient utilization.

For this reason, a good quote should come with data that make it possible to anticipate how the ingredient will affect the formulation. Use these criteria to compare suppliers and reduce uncertainty:

● Digestibility;
● Solubility and stability;
● Microbiological safety;
● Palatability;
● Standardization;
● Traceability;
● Production structure.

How to choose a reliable Chicken Protein Hydrolysate supplier?

Formulation predictability depends on the ingredient keeping its main characteristics consistent from development through testing and full-scale production. For Chicken Protein Hydrolysate, this consistency comes from raw material quality, hydrolysis control, traceability, and industrial capacity.

Choosing a supplier, therefore, is part of the technical decision about the formulation itself. MBRF Ingredients' integrated chain, quality governance, and global scale create the conditions to maintain production standards, track the origin of raw materials, and serve different markets consistently.

Get to know the BioActio Health & Performance line and discover hydrolyzed proteins developed for high-performance formulations.

Frequently asked questions about Chicken Protein Hydrolysate

Is Chicken Protein Hydrolysate hypoallergenic?

Chicken Protein Hydrolysate can be considered hypoallergenic, depending on the manufacturing process. For example, the CPH in BioActio Health & Performance is hypoallergenic because 95% of its peptides have a molecular weight below 10,000 Da. Hydrolysis breaks down protein structures and reduces the risk of recognition by the immune system, lowering the likelihood of allergic reactions. In the complete diet, hypoallergenic performance also depends on the other protein sources, processing, and cross-contamination control.

What is the digestibility of Chicken Protein Hydrolysate?

Digestibility varies depending on the raw material, the hydrolysis process, the assessment method, and the species. For BioActio Health & Performance, minimum digestibility in the 0.0002% pepsin assay is 90%. This specification parameter is not the same as a single digestibility rate in the body: the in vivo result can vary depending on the species, life stage, diet composition, and the formulation's inclusion level.

Does hydrolyzed protein improve palatability?

It can favor palatability due to the sensory characteristics of peptides and free amino acids. The effect depends on the degree of hydrolysis, dosage, and formulation, so it is advisable to evaluate acceptance in the final product.

What is the benefit of hydrolyzed protein?

CPH offers nutritional and functional benefits: it provides peptides and free amino acids, can favor digestibility, solubility, and palatability, and, when it contains bioactive peptides, acts on specific processes in the body. In BioActio Health & Performance, notable benefits include immunostimulant, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antihypertensive activities. The intensity of these effects depends on the species and on the diet's inclusion levels, balance, and processing.

What are the main sources used to produce hydrolyzed proteins?

Hydrolysates can come from animal sources, such as chicken, fish, liver, feathers, and pork tissues, as well as from plant sources, such as soy, and dairy sources. The source and the hydrolysis process determine their nutritional and technological characteristics.