Macronutrient and fatty acid content in selected seeds and oils and their use in diets for monogastric animals

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Abstract Oilseeds play a key role in the nutrition of monogastric animals. The aim of the study was to analyze the basic chemical composition of various seeds: canola (Brassica napus L. var. napus), camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz), hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), nettle (Urtica dioica L.), grape (Vitis vinifera L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), and wheat germ (Triticum aestivum L.) and determine the fatty acid profile of oils extracted from these seeds. The nettle seeds had the highest crude ash content (12.96 g·100 g−1 dry matter, P=0.014). The soybean seeds were characterized by the highest crude protein content (38.02 g·100 g−1 dry matter, P=0.021). The sunflower seeds contained the highest ether extract content (53.1 g·100 g−1 dry matter, P=0.019) and the lowest crude fiber levels (2.23 g·100 g−1 dry matter, P=0.031). In terms of the fatty acid profile, the wheat germ oil had the highest level (P=0.023) of saturated fatty acids (SFAs). whereas the grape and hemp oils had the highest level (P=0.032) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), with predominance of linoleic acid, i.e. 71.3 and 64.2 g·100 g−1 ether extract, respectively (P=0.004). The camelina oil exhibited the highest amount of α-linolenic acid from the PUFA family (33.9 g·100 g−1 ether extract, P<0.001). The most favorable values of the atherogenic (P=0.009) and thrombogenic (P<0.001) indices were determined for the camelina, sunflower, and hemp oils. The analyzed seeds and oils used as feed material constitute an important source of linoleic and α-linolenic fatty acids, protein, and energy, partially or completely meeting the demand for these nutrients in the diets for monogastric animals. Continued research on the use of the analyzed seeds and oils in animal nutrition to increase production efficiency and support animal health may lead to their wider use in the husbandry sector.