A low peroxide value can be misleading
Peroxides are intermediates. In an advanced oxidation state they have already decomposed, so peroxide value falls while anisidine value climbs. Reading peroxide value alone can make a badly oxidised oil look fresh, which is why TOTOX exists.
Antioxidant treatment is part of the specification
For fish meal, fish oil, high-fat meals and rendered fats, the antioxidant used, its dose and the date of treatment are as much a part of the specification as the oxidation indices themselves. Untreated marine cargo has a materially shorter usable life.
Typical industrial reference values
| Peroxide value | Low single digits desirable | Primary oxidation products |
| Anisidine value | Tracks secondary oxidation | Rises as PV falls back |
| TOTOX | Combined oxidation history | Preferred for marine oils |
| Free fatty acids | Hydrolytic rather than oxidative | Indicates handling and storage history |
Indicative industry reference values for orientation only — always contract against the delivered lot.
What to verify
- —Peroxide value, anisidine value and free fatty acids together, with the sampling date
- —Antioxidant declaration: type, dose, treatment date
- —Temperature history during voyage and storage
Typical risks
- —Vitamin A and E destruction in the finished feed
- —Palatability rejection, particularly in aqua and pet diets
- —Self-heating in bulk marine ingredients
Common mistakes
- —Specifying peroxide value only
- —Ignoring the elapsed time between certificate date and delivery date
Frequently asked questions
Why does oxidation matter beyond the fat itself?
Oxidation propagates. It destroys fat-soluble vitamins and pigments in the same feed, reduces intake, and generates compounds that stress the animal — so the cost is rarely limited to the fat fraction that was measured.
Related topics
Fat content sets the energy density of an ingredient and, together with fatty-acid profile and oxidation status, determines both nutritional value and storage stability.
Verifying remaining shelf life at intake — production date, storage history and stability indicators — prevents paying full price for material that has already spent most of its usable life in transit.
Storage history — how long, at what temperature and humidity, in what structure, alongside what else — explains most of the gap between a production certificate and the quality actually delivered.
Build a structured RFQ with the parameters, tolerances and verification steps written in — free for buyers.
Start your RFQFor commercial farm feed buyers
Buying feed specified on oxidation & rancidity indices for a commercial farm
- Best for
- Commercial farms, integrators, distributors and feed buyers sourcing feed specified on oxidation & rancidity indices and related feed, additives or nutrition supply on a recurring commercial scale — not pet food, hobby farms or backyard quantities.
- Animal species covered
- Broilers and layers, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, tilapia, salmon and shrimp, plus sheep and goats on request.
- Typical feed buyer needs
- A written specification, verified suppliers who can hold that specification, comparable pricing on the same delivery terms, documented quality (CoA, certifications) and a supply schedule that matches production.
- Bulk feed and recurring supply
- Most requests are bulk or big-bag volumes on monthly or quarterly contracts. Volume per delivery, storage capacity on farm and contract length change price more than the headline per-tonne quote.
- Feed additives and premix
- Premix, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, organic acids, toxin binders and other additives can be quoted alongside compound feed or ingredients so one supplier comparison covers the whole ration.
- What affects feed cost
- Raw-material origin and specification, inclusion rates, freight and Incoterms, packaging, order volume, payment terms, currency and certification requirements. Landed cost, not ex-works price, decides the winner.
- RFQ checklist
- Species and production stage, tonnes per month, target specification, delivery port or farm location, packaging, required certifications, first delivery date and contract duration.
- Supplier matching process
- You define the requirement, FeedMatch structures the RFQ, sends it to relevant qualified suppliers, and returns comparable offers side by side so you can negotiate on equal terms.
- Buyer is not charged
- Farm buyers are not charged to submit a requirement, receive matched suppliers or compare quotes.
FeedMatch helps farm buyers compare feed suppliers, nutrition providers, additives suppliers and related solutions. FeedMatch is an intermediary and does not manufacture feed or provide financing directly.
Technical parameter names and analytical method references are kept in English because they are quoted verbatim in contracts, certificates and international standards.
Educational reference. FeedMatch Group does not rank, recommend or endorse manufacturers.
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