Atlas Feed Additives

Amino acids and nitrogen nutrients

L-Histidine

Feed-grade L-Histidine is an essential amino acid used in precision animal nutrition programs where protein quality, amino acid balance, aquaculture performance targets, and species-specific nutrient requirements must be carefully reviewed.

  • Feed-grade amino acid
  • Essential amino acid
  • Imidazole side chain
  • Aquaculture, pet food, poultry and swine
  • Specification-led sourcing support
Request quotation Back to category
L-Histidine feed additive visual
Product type Nutritional amino acid additive
Amino acid group Essential amino acid
Typical form Crystalline powder or granule
Supply model Global sourcing and quotation support

Product role

Where L-Histidine fits in animal nutrition

L-Histidine is part of the amino acids and nitrogen nutrients group. It is an essential amino acid with an imidazole side chain, and it is evaluated in feed formulation when the nutritionist needs greater control over the final amino acid profile.

In practical feed formulation, L-Histidine is not usually evaluated as a stand-alone ingredient. It is reviewed against the complete amino acid profile, digestible amino acid matrix, protein sources, species requirements, production stage, palatability objectives, processing conditions, and the intended finished-feed application.

L-Histidine may become especially relevant in aquaculture feeds, pet food formulas, specialized young-animal diets, lower crude-protein programs, and formulas that replace fish meal or animal proteins with plant proteins. The objective is to support balanced protein nutrition rather than simply increasing total crude protein.

Atlas Feed Additives can coordinate international supplier options for feed mills, premix producers, distributors, integrators, aquaculture feed producers, pet food manufacturers, and importers that require consistent feed-grade L-Histidine with clear quality documentation.

Technical overview

Typical technical profile buyers request

Final values must always follow the manufacturer specification and certificate of analysis. The table below is a practical procurement guide for common feed-grade L-Histidine requests.

Product name L-Histidine, feed-grade L-Histidine, histidine amino acid, L-His.
Chemical identity L-Histidine is an L-form amino acid with the molecular formula C6H9N3O2 and a molecular weight of approximately 155.16 g/mol.
CAS number 71-00-1.
Amino acid class Essential amino acid with an imidazole side chain. It is commonly reviewed in precise protein nutrition programs and species-specific amino acid balancing.
Nutritional relevance Used when the diet matrix shows a need to adjust histidine contribution without over-relying on high-protein raw materials or changing the broader ingredient profile.
Common commercial assay Often requested as a high-purity feed-grade amino acid. Buyers should confirm exact assay, purity, method of analysis, stereochemical identity, moisture, residue profile, and batch result with the supplier.
Appearance White to off-white crystalline powder or granule. Color, particle size, and flowability may vary by manufacturer and production route.
Solubility and handling Solubility, dispersibility, dust level, and handling characteristics should be confirmed before use in premix, liquid application, pelleting, or extrusion systems.
Production route Commercial amino acids may be produced by fermentation, chemical synthesis, extraction, or other validated production routes depending on the product and manufacturer. Buyers should request production-route and compliance declarations when required by the destination market.
Packaging Common packaging options may include 20 kg or 25 kg bags, palletized shipments, fiber drums, cartons, big bags, or container-load supply. Final packaging depends on producer, order quantity, and destination requirements.
Shelf life Use the manufacturer shelf-life statement. Store in dry, cool, clean, and ventilated conditions according to the supplier label and safety data sheet.
Regulatory status Use must comply with feed additive rules, import rules, labeling rules, registration requirements, and species-specific restrictions in the destination market.

Animal nutrition applications

Where feed mills and nutrition teams evaluate L-Histidine

Aquaculture feed

L-Histidine is often reviewed carefully in aquaculture formulas because fish and shrimp feeds may contain changing levels of fish meal, animal proteins, plant proteins, single-cell proteins, and other alternative ingredients that shift the amino acid profile.

  • Salmonid, marine fish, freshwater fish, and shrimp feed formulation review
  • Fish meal replacement strategies requiring amino acid precision
  • Extruded and pelleted feeds where process compatibility should be checked
  • Digestible amino acid matrix evaluation for target species and life stage
  • Review with lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, arginine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine

Pet food and specialty nutrition

In pet food and specialty animal nutrition, L-Histidine may be evaluated where protein sources, amino acid completeness, palatability, extrusion performance, and label requirements must be balanced together.

  • Dog, cat, and specialty pet formulas using mixed animal and plant proteins
  • High-protein, limited-ingredient, or alternative-protein recipes
  • Extruded products where heat, moisture, and particle quality must be reviewed
  • Formulas requiring precise amino acid contribution without changing the full recipe
  • Documentation review for origin, allergen, animal-origin, GMO, Halal, or Kosher requirements

Poultry and swine feed

L-Histidine can be evaluated in poultry and swine programs when lower crude-protein formulation, specialty protein sources, young-animal requirements, or internal nutrition standards require detailed amino acid balancing.

  • Broiler, layer, breeder, turkey, piglet, grower-finisher, and sow diet review
  • Low crude-protein programs where limiting amino acids must be controlled
  • Diets using alternative protein sources or highly variable raw materials
  • Precision premix and concentrate applications
  • Full matrix review with energy, crude protein, digestible amino acids, minerals, and electrolytes
Formulation note: L-Histidine should be evaluated by a qualified nutritionist using the complete diet matrix. Species, life stage, raw-material profile, digestibility assumptions, processing conditions, and local feed rules all influence whether supplemental L-Histidine is appropriate.

Formulation value

Why histidine balance matters before price comparison

L-Histidine purchasing decisions should not be based only on price per kilogram. A meaningful comparison reviews the cost per unit of active amino acid, declared purity, expected contribution to the complete diet, and whether the diet already contains enough histidine from fish meal, animal proteins, soybean products, cereal proteins, or other raw materials.

Nutrition teams usually evaluate L-Histidine together with the full essential amino acid profile. When a diet is reformulated to reduce crude protein, replace fish meal, change animal protein sources, or introduce alternative ingredients, the amino acid pattern can shift and histidine may require closer attention.

  • Supports precision amino acid balancing in specialized formulations
  • Useful when protein sources create unusual amino acid profiles
  • Can support lower crude-protein strategies when all limiting amino acids are balanced
  • Important in aquaculture and pet food formulas where protein-source replacement is common
  • Should be entered into formulation software using verified matrix values
  • Must be used according to local feed additive regulations and buyer specifications

Practical formulation checks

Questions for the nutritionist

  • Which amino acid basis is used? Confirm whether the formulation uses total amino acids, digestible amino acids, standardized ileal digestibility, apparent digestibility, or another internal nutrient matrix.
  • Which species and life stage? Aquaculture, pet food, poultry, swine, and specialty feed programs can have very different formulation priorities.
  • Which protein sources drive histidine levels? Review fish meal, poultry meal, meat meal, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, distillers grains, pea protein, insect meal, single-cell proteins, and other alternatives.
  • Which processing conditions apply? Check premixing, pelleting, extrusion, heat exposure, liquid addition, storage time, and compatibility with minerals, acids, enzymes, and other additives.

Quality assurance

Buyer quality checklist for L-Histidine

A clear purchasing file helps reduce risk during supplier approval, import clearance, feed registration, warehouse receiving, and production use. Atlas Feed Additives can help buyers request the right documents before comparing offers.

Identity and assay

  • Product specification sheet
  • Certificate of analysis
  • Assay and purity declaration
  • Method of analysis
  • Moisture or loss on drying
  • Specific rotation or stereochemical identity when required
  • Particle size and bulk density information
  • Confirmation that the product is L-Histidine rather than D-histidine, DL-histidine, or a salt form not requested

Safety parameters

  • Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury
  • Microbiological status
  • Salmonella statement where required
  • Residual solvents if applicable to the production route
  • Dioxins, PCBs, or other contaminants if market requires
  • Melamine or adulterant testing when required by buyer policy
  • Safety data sheet

Traceability

  • Batch or lot number
  • Manufacturing date
  • Expiry or retest date
  • Country of origin
  • Manufacturer or approved supplier information
  • Packaging label copy
  • Packing list and pallet configuration

Market documents

  • Free-sale certificate when needed
  • Health or veterinary certificate when applicable
  • Feed additive registration support documents
  • GMO or production organism statement where required
  • Halal or Kosher certificate if required
  • BSE/TSE and animal-origin statements if requested
  • Legalized or chamber-stamped documents if required by the destination country

Storage and handling

Protect quality, flowability, and shelf life

L-Histidine should be handled as a high-value feed additive. Storage and handling conditions can affect caking, dust formation, appearance, dosing accuracy, and ease of use in premix or feed mill systems.

  • Store in original, closed packaging in a clean, dry, and ventilated warehouse
  • Keep away from direct sunlight, moisture, condensation, and strong odors
  • Use pallets and avoid direct contact with floors or warehouse walls
  • Protect bags from tearing, contamination, and water exposure
  • Apply first-in, first-out stock rotation based on manufacturing or expiry date
  • Keep separate from non-feed chemicals, pesticides, fuels, and cleaning products
  • Follow the supplier label, safety data sheet, and local occupational safety procedures

Procurement note

Ask for the right specification before comparing prices.

Price comparisons are meaningful only when assay, purity, particle size, physical form, packaging, origin, documentation, Incoterm, delivery schedule, payment terms, and supplier approval status are aligned.

For sensitive or regulated markets, confirm feed additive authorization, import registration, label language, certificate format, and whether the manufacturer or exporter must appear on official documents.

  • Define the required grade. State whether you need feed-grade L-Histidine, a specific assay, a specific producer, a specific origin, or a registered source.
  • Confirm technical equivalence. Compare purity, amino acid basis, stereochemical identity, particle profile, moisture, bulk density, flowability, and packaging before comparing price.
  • Review the diet matrix. Ask the nutritionist whether the formula requires L-Histidine addition or whether histidine contribution can be managed through existing protein ingredients.
  • Check documentation before ordering. Review COA, SDS, specification, origin, shelf life, production-route declarations, and destination-market certificates before shipment.

Related products

Buyers often compare or combine L-Histidine with other amino acids and nitrogen nutrients to build a balanced formulation strategy.

L-Lysine HCl L-Lysine Sulfate DL-Methionine Methionine Hydroxy Analog L-Threonine L-Tryptophan L-Valine L-Leucine L-Isoleucine L-Arginine

Quotation preparation

Information to send for a faster quotation

The more complete the request, the faster Atlas Feed Additives can compare suitable supplier options and avoid mismatched offers.

Commercial details

  • Required quantity and shipment frequency
  • Sample request, trial order, pallet quantity, FCL, or annual contract volume
  • Destination country, port, or delivery address
  • Preferred Incoterm such as EXW, FCA, FOB, CFR, CIF, CPT, or DAP
  • Target shipment date and delivery deadline
  • Payment preference and banking requirements

Technical details

  • Required assay and purity range
  • Accepted origin or manufacturer list
  • Physical form, particle size, or granulation preference
  • Packaging format, pallet requirements, and label requirements
  • Any internal specification or buyer standard
  • Species, formulation application, or intended feed category when relevant

Document details

  • COA and SDS requirements
  • Import registration documents
  • Health, veterinary, or free-sale certificates
  • Halal, Kosher, GMO, BSE/TSE, or origin statements
  • Production-route or fermentation declaration if required
  • Label language, legalization, or chamber-stamp requirements

Questions

Useful answers

What is L-Histidine used for in animal nutrition?

L-Histidine is used as a nutritional amino acid additive in feed programs that require precise amino acid balancing. It is especially relevant when the formulation team is reviewing complete protein nutrition, aquaculture requirements, pet food amino acid profiles, or specialized diets with changing protein sources.

Why is L-Histidine important in aquaculture feed?

Aquaculture formulas often use variable levels of fish meal, animal protein, plant protein, and alternative protein ingredients. L-Histidine may be evaluated when the complete amino acid profile shows that histidine contribution needs adjustment for the target species and life stage.

Which species commonly evaluate L-Histidine?

L-Histidine may be evaluated in fish, shrimp, pet food, poultry, swine, and other species where amino acid precision is required. Correct use depends on species, production stage, formulation objective, diet composition, and applicable feed rules.

Is L-Histidine always needed in low crude-protein diets?

No. Low crude-protein diets should be evaluated by a qualified nutritionist using the complete amino acid matrix. L-Histidine may be useful in some formulas, while other formulas may already contain enough histidine from protein ingredients.

What makes L-Histidine different from other amino acids?

L-Histidine contains an imidazole side chain and has species-specific nutritional relevance. In procurement, buyers should confirm the exact L-form, assay, purity, CAS number, specification, and certificate of analysis before purchasing.

Can Atlas Feed Additives quote L-Histidine?

Yes. Send your required specification, quantity, destination, packaging preference, shipment timing, and required documents so Atlas Feed Additives can review suitable supplier options for L-Histidine.

What quality documents should buyers request for L-Histidine?

Common documents include specification, certificate of analysis, safety data sheet, origin information, batch details, shelf-life statement, label copy, and any market-specific certificates required by the buyer or destination authority.

How should L-Histidine be stored?

Store L-Histidine in clean, dry, cool, and ventilated conditions in the original packaging. Keep away from moisture, direct sunlight, damaged bags, strong odors, and non-feed chemicals. Always follow the supplier label and SDS.

What should be checked before comparing two L-Histidine offers?

Compare assay, purity, stereochemical identity, particle size, origin, manufacturer, documents, packaging, shelf life, Incoterm, freight route, payment terms, and whether the source is accepted in the destination market.

Request a quotation

Tell us what you need

Send your product list, target specification, destination country, packaging preference, shipment timing, and required documents. Our team will review your request and respond from orders@feedgradeadditives.com.

Product: L-Histidine or your required amino acid specification
Quantity: sample request, trial order, pallet quantity, FCL, or annual contract volume
Delivery: destination port, warehouse, or preferred Incoterm
Documents: COA, SDS, origin, health certificate, Halal, Kosher, GMO statement, BSE/TSE statement, or registration file
orders@feedgradeadditives.com +90 507 856 26 11 WhatsApp