The present invention provides an improved method for obtaining a bark extract by hydrolysis and acidification in the presence of water. The method comprises the steps of subjecting birch bark to hydrolysis; separating the undissolved bark portions from the hydrolysis liquid; providing a liquid phase and acidifying this liquid phase; precipitating the extracts from the liquid phase by raising the relative amount of water in the liquid phase and recovering the extract. Further the invention relates to an animal feed obtainable by this method and to the use of the birch bark extract in food, animal feed, pulp, paper and board, pigments and barriers for paper coating.