During the processing of rapeseed and the extraction of oil from this plant, rapeseed meal remains as a by-product.
This product is obtained during pre-pressing and additional moisture-heat treatment. As a result of these processes, meal is obtained, which is then used for various purposes – both in feed and in industrial. The rapeseed meal is especially popular in the EU countries.
Advantages of rapeseed meal
It should be noted that until recently, rapeseed was basically not used as a food product, since it was believed that it contains a large amount of erucic acid, which is dangerous for the human heart. However, since the 1979s, the attitude towards this plant has been revised, since new varieties of this plant have appeared, which no longer contain substances hazardous to humans, and therefore can be used as food. Rapeseed meal, in turn, from about the same period began to be introduced into animal feed – both directly and as part of compound feed. By the way, some countries, including Europe, set their own standards for these products.
What are the advantages of using rapeseed meal in animal nutrition? First of all, this product is distinguished by its low cost, and also consists of a large amount of protein – there is almost the same amount as in soybean meal, and much more than in sunflower meal. By the way, the protein content depends on the method by which the meal was obtained – in the case of hot pressing, much more protein remains in the product. Also, the quality of feed depends on the type of rapeseed – modern varieties contain a lot of nutrients.
In addition, this product contains much less crude protein compared to soybean meal (only 34%), but at the same time it contains more essential amino acids, minerals and methionine. Remember that the best quality meal is made from 00-rapeseed, which itself contains a small amount of unwanted substances. Crude fat in this meal is up to 18%.
Application of rapeseed meal
According to statistics, this product is most often used as animal feed. In addition, the powder obtained from the meal is used for the preparation of highly concentrated compound feed. Not only cattle, but also pigs and poultry are successfully fed with rapeseed meal.
Most often, this product is used as a good alternative to soybean meal, the price of which has been growing rapidly in recent years. This helps farmers save money on animal feed while still getting good performance and weight gain. So, for one head of cattle it is advised to give up to 1.5 rapeseed meal every day. At the same time, remember that the energy values of such a diet are quite high, and in order not to exceed the recommended values for cows, such a diet may need to be adjusted.
By the way, most of this culture in the world is produced in Europe, China, Canada and India.