Valuable for its protein, fibre and other nutritional components, sunflower meal can be used in poultry, cattle, sheep and goat feeds together with the other raw materials in the ration.
The product’s nutritional value and characteristics may vary with the quality of the sunflower seeds used, the hull content and the oil extraction method applied.
How Is Sunflower Meal Obtained?
Sunflower seeds are processed primarily to make use of their oil.
When the oil is separated, the remaining solid part forms sunflower meal.
During processing, the seed’s hull content and the method applied can affect the composition of the resulting meal. For this reason, sunflower meals from different sources may not have the same nutritional values.
The Nutritional Value of Sunflower Meal
When assessing sunflower meal as a feed raw material, various characteristics are taken into account, chiefly protein and fibre.
In particular:
- Crude protein
- Crude fibre
- Crude fat
- Moisture
- Ash
- Amino acid profile
are the main parameters used to assess the product.
The fibre content of sunflower meal may be closely related to its hull content. It is therefore not correct to determine the product’s feed value by looking only at its protein content.
Why Does Hull Content Matter?
The hull content of sunflower seeds can affect the fibre content of the resulting meal, and therefore how it can be used.
In products with a higher hull content, the fibre content may increase. This can affect the product’s use in different animal species and different rations.
When assessing sunflower meal, the fibre value should therefore be considered together with the protein content.
In Which Animals Is Sunflower Meal Used?
Sunflower meal can be used in compound feeds for different animal species.
Its main uses are:
- Dairy cattle feeds
- Beef cattle feeds
- Sheep and goat feeds
- Poultry feeds
However, its inclusion rate and place in the ration vary with the animal species, production period, the product’s analysis values and the other components of the ration.
Sunflower meal should therefore not be assessed on its own, but with regard to the nutrient balance within the total ration.
What to Look for When Buying Sunflower Meal
When assessing the quality of sunflower meal, looking only at the product’s protein content is not enough.
The main assessment criteria may include:
- Protein content
- Fibre content
- Moisture
- Fat content
- Ash
- Amino acid profile
- Hull content
- Processing method
- Physical appearance
- Supply source
The suitability of the fibre content for the ration in particular is important in assessing which animal group the product can be used for and in what quantity.
The Difference Between Sunflower Meal and Soybean Meal
Although sunflower meal and soybean meal can both be used as protein sources, their nutritional profiles are not the same.
Soybean meal generally stands out for its higher protein content and different amino acid profile, while fibre content may be a more prominent feature of sunflower meal.
The two raw materials are therefore not used in the same way in the ration.
Which product is preferred depends on assessing factors such as the animal species, ration targets, the product’s analysis values, availability and cost together.
Organic Sunflower Meal
Organic sunflower meal is obtained by processing sunflower seeds grown in accordance with the organic production system.
To be traded as organic, the product must meet the relevant organic regulations and certification requirements.
For organic sunflower meal, therefore, the product’s organic status and certification documents should be assessed as well as its nutritional values.
Summary
Sunflower meal is an important feed raw material obtained after oil production, used especially in animal feeds as a source of protein and other nutrients.
The product’s value is not determined by its protein content alone.
Protein, fibre, fat, moisture, ash, hull content and processing characteristics should be assessed together.
For correct use, sunflower meal’s analysis values should be considered together with the animal species it will be used for and the other raw materials in the total ration.