The trade-offs between a dry, encapsulated EPA and DHA powder and liquid fish oil, for feed and pet-food formulation.
Spray-dried omega-3 powder and liquid fish oil both deliver the marine omega-3s EPA and DHA. The difference is the form. Liquid fish oil is the oil itself. A spray-dried powder encapsulates that oil inside a dry, free-flowing matrix that blends straight into dry formulations.
For a feed mill or pet-food line, that difference decides how the ingredient handles, how long it lasts, and how evenly it doses.
Fish oil is sensitive to air, light, and heat. Once exposed, it begins to oxidize, which affects quality and shelf life. It also needs pumps or spraying to dose, careful storage, and cleanup, all of which add cost and complexity to a dry production line.
| Attribute | Liquid fish oil | Spray-dried powder (SALMATE®) |
|---|---|---|
| Physical form | Liquid oil | Free-flowing dry powder |
| Handling in dry blends | Needs spraying or mixing equipment | Dry-blends directly into the mix |
| Oxidative stability | Lower; oxidizes once exposed to air | Higher; encapsulated and antioxidant-protected |
| Shelf life and storage | Shorter; needs careful storage | Longer; stable on the shelf |
| Dosing in dry feed | Harder to dose evenly | Accurate, repeatable inclusion |
| Equipment and cleanup | Pumps, heating, and cleanup | Minimal; weigh and blend |
| Best-fit application | Liquid top-dress and oil coating | Dry premix, kibble, pellets, supplements |
SALMATE® is made by spray-drying refined fish oil with natural antioxidants into a modified-starch matrix. That protects the EPA and DHA through processing and storage, then releases it where it is absorbed. The result is a free-flowing powder that dry-blends directly into your formulation.
Liquid fish oil can suit operations already set up to handle and dose oil, or applications that call for a liquid coat. For dry formulations, premixes, kibble, pellets, and supplements, a spray-dried powder is usually the more practical way to deliver consistent EPA and DHA with a long shelf life.
Both supply the marine omega-3s EPA and DHA. A spray-dried powder encapsulates the oil to protect it from oxidation and to make dosing and handling easier in dry formulations.
Fish oil is sensitive to air, light, and heat, so once exposed it begins to oxidize, which affects quality and shelf life. Encapsulation in a powder slows this down.
Yes. SALMATE® is a free-flowing powder designed to dry-blend directly into kibble, premixes, pellets, and supplements, with accurate, repeatable inclusion.
For dry formulations, a spray-dried powder is usually more practical, it dry-blends in, doses accurately, and has a longer shelf life than liquid oil.
Tell us about your formulation, and we will help you choose the right omega-3 format.