Protein Concentrates and Sources

Oilseed Meals

These include: Soyabean, Cottonseed, Rapeseed, Linseed, Sunflowerseed meals

Characteristics

Soyabean meal, cottonseed meal, rapeseed meal, linseed meal and sunflowerseed meal belong to the oilseed meal family. Oilseed meals are by-products and residues following the removal of oil from the seeds. They are a very good protein source with high digestibility and are a better source of calcium and phosphorus than cereals.

	DM (%)	ME (MJ/kg DM)	CP (g/kg DM)
Soyabean meal	90	13.3 – 15.5	400 - 500
Cottonseed meal	90	8.5 – 12.5	230 - 450
Rapeseed meal	90	12	400
Linseed meal	90	12	400
Sunflowerseed meal	90	9.5 – 10.5	300 - 430

Associated Problems

Soyabeans are oestrogenic, goitrogenic and can contain high levels of lectins. Cottonseeds are low in essential amino acids, calcium and vitamins A and D, and can contain elevated levels of gossypols. Rapeseeds are goitrogenic and can contain elevated levels of tannins. Immature linseed has mucilage that is converted to hydrogen cyanide. Sunflowerseeds cause soft body fat in pigs due to high PUFA levels.

Leguminous Seeds

These include: Peas, Beans (broad, horse, Windsor) and Lupin seeds

Characteristics

Leguminous seeds consists of peas, beans (broad, horse, windsor) and lupin (white, blue and yellow varieties) seeds. Leguminous seeds have a high protein content, good energy content and high phosphorus concentration, but tend to be low in calcium. Leguminous seeds can be eaten whole or processed (cracked, kibbled or ground). They are often used in place of other protein concentrations.

	DM (%)	ME (MJ/kg DM)	CP (g/kg DM)
Peas	86	13.8	260
Beans	86	13.4	280
Lupin seed meal	90	13.2	280 - 420

Associated Problems

Some bean species may contain high levels of lectins. Lupin seeds may contain high levels of alkaloids (e.g. ergotamine). Can be associated with GI tract disturbances (colic, diarrhoea).

Fishmeal

There are other types of animal protein such as meat & bone and blood meal. However, due to the UK and EU restrictions ruminants and non-ruminants must not be fed processed meat & bone or blood meal. Only farmed fish are permitted bloodmeal.

Characteristics

Due to EU/UK restrictions, fishmeal can only be used in unweaned calf milk replacers in ruminants. Pigs, poultry and horses are permitted fishmeal. Fishmeal is typically included in small amounts and has many essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Contains high levels of calcium and phosphorus. UK produced fishmeal tends to be slightly lower nutritive value than herring or South American derived fishmeal.

	DM (%)	ME (MJ/kg DM)	CP (g/kg DM)
Fishmeal	91	14.5 - 18	700 - 800
Meat and Bone Meal	90	10	600
Blood Meal	87	12.8	920

Associated Problems

High intakes of fishmeal are associated with taint of meat and eggs.

Urea

Characteristics

A misnomer as not technically a protein, but it does have a CP equivalent to 2,900g/kg DM. In ruminants, the rumen microflora hydrolyse urea to ammonia. Urea is often supplemented to diets of low protein concentration and can also be contained in molassed vitamin/mineral blocks. Urea may be used to treat straw (urine sometimes used in some developing countries), where it effectively improves digestibility of this low quality roughage.

Associated Problems

Less than one-third of the dietary nitrogen should be provided as urea in order to minimise ammonia toxicity. Signs of ammonia toxicity include bloat, twitching, ataxia, excessive salivation and death.

Protein Concentrates and Sources Learning Resources
Flashcards Test your knowledge using flashcard type questions	Animal Nutrition Flashcards