Sunflower oil cake feed: properties and applications

Sunflower oil cake is the pressed residue of sunflower seeds after vegetable oil extraction on screw presses. It is one of the most valuable and widely used concentrated feeds in livestock farming for balancing rations in protein and energy. Due to its high content of protein, residual oil and phospholipids, sunflower oil cake is an important component of compound feeds and feed mixtures for cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, rabbits and horses.

Chemical Composition and Nutritional Value

The nutritional value of sunflower oil cake is determined by the content of crude protein, fat, fibre and minerals. According to standard requirements, the mass fraction of crude protein calculated on an absolutely dry basis must be at least 38%, and the mass fraction of crude fibre — not more than 20%. In a quality product, the protein content is usually in the range of 30–40%, fat — 8–15%, fibre — up to 20%, moisture — up to 11%.

The energy value of sunflower oil cake is about 1.2 feed units and 11.4 MJ of metabolisable energy per 1 kg of product. Residual sunflower oil enriches the feed with vitamin E and phospholipids, which have a beneficial effect on metabolism and reproductive function of animals. The fibre contained in the cake is necessary for normal digestion, especially in ruminants, as it stimulates rumen digestion and intestinal peristalsis.

Regulatory Framework

Requirements for sunflower oil cake as a feed product are regulated by GOST 80-96 "Sunflower oil cake. Specifications". The standard establishes norms for the mass fraction of crude protein, crude fibre, moisture, as well as requirements for organoleptic indicators and product safety. For sunflower meal obtained by the prepressing-extraction scheme, a separate standard GOST 11246-96 applies. In feed practice, it is important to distinguish between cake and meal: cake contains more residual fat and has a higher energy value, while meal contains less fat but more protein.

Feeding Rates

Sunflower oil cake is suitable for feeding most types of farm animals, but the inclusion rates vary depending on the species, age and physiological state of the animals.

Cattle. Young cattle are fed 1 to 1.5 kg of cake per day, adult animals — up to 2.5–4.0 kg per day. In cow rations, sunflower oil cake helps increase milk productivity and milk fat content. The share of cake in the total feed volume for cattle can reach 25%.

Pigs. Sunflower oil cake is used in pig feeding to a limited extent, since residual sunflower oil can lead to soft lard. Recommended inclusion rates are up to 8% for piglets and sows and up to 10–15% for finishing pigs. When including cake in pig rations, the feed must be balanced for lysine, which is the limiting amino acid.

Poultry. Adult chickens can be fed up to 20% cake, young stock — up to 15%. The sulfur-containing amino acids in the cake improve feather quality and eggshell strength.

Other animals. Sheep and rabbits can be fed up to 10–25% cake, horses — up to 20%.

Limitations and Safety

When using sunflower oil cake, its high fibre content should be taken into account, which can reduce ration digestibility in monogastric animals. In addition, if storage conditions are violated or low-quality raw materials are used, fat oxidation products can accumulate in the cake, giving the feed a bitter taste and reducing its palatability. It is important to control moisture content, since high humidity creates conditions for mould development and mycotoxin accumulation.

Storage

Sunflower oil cake is stored in dry, well-ventilated areas protected from direct sunlight and moisture. Due to its high fat content, the cake quickly becomes rancid if storage conditions are violated, so its storage periods are limited. Before feeding, large cakes or pieces are recommended to be crushed for better palatability and digestibility.