Hydrolyzed protein powder is a water-soluble powder containing at least 90% crude protein, produced by breaking animal protein (typically cattle bone collagen) into short peptides and amino acids through hydrolysis. It is used in animal feed, pet food, aquaculture, fermentation substrates and as an organic agricultural input.
This guide explains what hydrolyzed protein powder is, its composition and amino acid profile, how it is made, where it is used, and how it differs from the free-amino-acid fertilizer grades (Amino 35 / 45 / 80). It is written for feed formulators, pet food manufacturers, fermentation processors and agricultural distributors.
What is Hydrolyzed Protein Powder?
Hydrolyzed protein powder is a fine, water-soluble powder made by hydrolyzing — that is, breaking down with heat, enzymes or acid — a protein-rich raw material until the long protein chains are cut into short peptides and free amino acids. The hydrolysate is then filtered, concentrated and spray-dried into a stable powder.
The result is a protein source that combines two properties whole protein ingredients cannot offer at the same time:
- Very high digestibility. Peptides of 2–20 amino acids are absorbed faster than intact protein, which matters in young-animal nutrition, pet food palatability and recovery diets.
- 99% water solubility. The powder dissolves almost completely, making it easy to blend into liquid feed, slurries, fermentation media and fertigation lines.
Everwell's protein powder is made from hydrolyzed cattle bone, giving it a distinctive collagen-derived amino acid profile (very high in glycine and proline) with ≥90% crude protein and ≥80% total amino acids.
Composition of Hydrolyzed Protein Powder
Typical specification for Everwell's hydrolyzed cattle bone protein powder:
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Source | Hydrolyzed cattle bone |
| Crude protein | ≥ 90% |
| Total amino acids | ≥ 80% |
| Crude ash | ≥ 9% |
| Crude fat | ≥ 0.5% |
| Moisture | ≤ 6% |
| pH (1% solution) | 5 – 7.5 |
| Water solubility | 99% |
Amino acid profile (collagen-derived, verified by laboratory analysis):
| Glycine | 23.98% |
| Proline | 12.61% |
| Valine | 11.19% |
| Glutamic acid | 9.35% |
| Other amino acids | Balance |
The dominance of glycine (nearly 24%) and proline is the signature of collagen. This profile is prized in pet food for palatability and in animal nutrition for supporting connective tissue, joint and gut-wall health, and it is equally valuable in agriculture as a slow-release organic nitrogen source.
How Hydrolyzed Protein Powder Is Made
- Raw material preparation. Cattle bone from inspected food-processing streams is cleaned and degreased.
- Hydrolysis. The collagen is hydrolyzed under controlled temperature, pressure and pH, cutting the protein chains into peptides of targeted molecular weight.
- Filtration and concentration. The hydrolysate is filtered to remove minerals and fat, then concentrated.
- Spray drying. Fine-atomised droplets are dried into a uniform, free-flowing powder with ≤6% moisture and a long shelf life.
The entire process is physical — no synthetic chemicals are added — so the finished powder qualifies as a natural ingredient in most feed and organic-agriculture programs.
Uses of Hydrolyzed Protein Powder
| Application | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Animal feed premix | Highly digestible protein source for swine, poultry and ruminant feed; small peptides improve young-animal growth performance. |
| Pet food palatant / base | Collagen peptides boost palatability and support skin, coat and joint health in dog and cat food. |
| Aquaculture feed | Water-stable, high-protein ingredient for fish and shrimp diets with high digestibility. |
| Agricultural protein supplement | 3 – 5 kg per hectare as an organic soil input that feeds microbes and releases amino acids slowly. |
| Fermentation substrate | Organic nitrogen source for microbial fermentation processes. |
Protein Powder vs Amino Acid Powder: What's the Difference?
Both products start from hydrolyzed protein, but they are hydrolyzed to different endpoints and serve different purposes:
| Protein Powder | Amino Acid Powder (35 / 45 / 80) | |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrolysis endpoint | Peptides + amino acids (partial) | Mostly free amino acids (deep) |
| Key metric | ≥ 90% crude protein | 35% / 45% / 80% total amino acids |
| Mode of action | Slow release via microbial mineralisation | Immediate plant uptake (hours) |
| Main markets | Animal feed, pet food, aquaculture, fermentation | Foliar fertiliser, biostimulants, fertigation |
| Solubility | 99% | 100% |
| Best agricultural role | Soil organic builder, slow-release N | Fast crop nutrition and stress recovery |
In short: choose protein powder when the goal is digestible protein for animals or slow soil conditioning; choose amino acid powder when the goal is immediate crop response. For a full walkthrough of the amino grades, read Amino 45 Explained and Amino 80 Explained.
Benefits of Hydrolyzed Protein Powder
- Extremely high protein density. ≥90% crude protein means less filler transported and stored per unit of protein.
- Collagen-specific amino acid profile. Nearly 24% glycine plus high proline — valuable for palatability, connective tissue and skin/coat claims.
- High digestibility and solubility. 99% water-soluble, low ash and fat, easy to blend into any liquid or dry formulation.
- Dual-market flexibility. One ingredient serves feed, pet food, aquaculture, fermentation and agriculture channels.
- Clean label. Produced by physical hydrolysis with no synthetic additives; batch COA with every shipment.
- Soil-building value in agriculture. Feeds soil microbial biomass, improves organic matter and releases nitrogen gradually without leaching.
Packaging & Supply
Everwell Bio supplies hydrolyzed protein powder in 25 kg kraft paper bags with PE inner liner (standard export packaging). Each batch ships with a Certificate of Analysis covering crude protein, amino acid profile, moisture, pH, solubility, heavy metals and microbial limits.
Our monthly capacity across amino acid and protein powders is 4,000 tons, and we ship to 20+ countries — typically 15–25 days by sea from Shanghai or Qingdao.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hydrolyzed Protein Powder
What is hydrolyzed protein powder?
Hydrolyzed protein powder is a high-protein water-soluble powder produced by breaking down animal or plant protein into short peptides and free amino acids through hydrolysis. Everwell's grade contains at least 90% crude protein and at least 80% total amino acids, is 99% water-soluble, and is used in animal feed, pet food, aquaculture feed, fermentation substrates and organic agriculture.
What is hydrolyzed protein powder made from?
Hydrolyzed protein powder can be made from many protein sources — cattle bone collagen, feather keratin, fish, soy or wheat. Everwell's protein powder is made from hydrolyzed cattle bone, yielding a collagen-derived profile dominated by glycine (23.98%), proline (12.61%), valine (11.19%) and glutamic acid (9.35%).
What is hydrolyzed protein powder used for?
It is used in animal feed premixes, as a pet food palatant and protein base, in aquaculture feed, as a fermentation substrate, and in agriculture at 3–5 kg/ha as an organic protein supplement that feeds soil microbes and releases amino acids slowly.
What is the difference between protein powder and amino acid powder?
Amino acid powder is hydrolyzed further into free amino acids that plants absorb immediately — a fast-acting biostimulant for foliar spray and fertigation. Protein powder retains more larger peptides: it releases nutrients slowly, and its ≥90% crude protein and collagen profile make it better suited to animal feed, pet food, fermentation and slow-release soil conditioning.
How do you use hydrolyzed protein powder in agriculture?
Apply as a soil supplement at 3–5 kg per hectare via drip irrigation or soil drench. It works primarily by feeding soil microorganisms, which mineralise the protein into plant-available amino acids and nitrogen over several weeks, building soil organic matter while providing slow-release nutrition.
Is hydrolyzed protein powder water-soluble and safe?
Yes. Everwell's protein powder is 99% water-soluble with moisture below 6% and pH of 5–7.5 in a 1% solution. It is produced from food-processing streams by physical hydrolysis with no synthetic additives, and each batch ships with a full Certificate of Analysis.
Sources & Further Reading
- Amino 45 Explained: composition, benefits and use
- Amino 80 Explained: the high-concentration grade
- What is compound amino acid powder?
- Amino 35, 45, or 80: How to choose
- Benefits of amino acid powder as fertiliser
- Everwell Protein Powder — product page
Need a sample of protein powder?
Tell us your application — feed, pet food, aquaculture, fermentation or agriculture. We will reply within 24 hours with COA, price and a free sample for your trial.