Cold-pressed Rapeseed Cake Research Articles

High replacement of soybean meal by different types of rapeseed meal is detrimental to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) growth, antioxidant capacity, non-specific immunity and Aeromonas hydrophila tolerance.

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal with different types of rapeseed meal (RSM; Chinese 95-type (oil press model) rapeseed meal [C95RM], Chinese 200-type rapeseed meal [C200RM], cold pressed rapeseed cake [CPRC], Indian rapeseed meal [IRM] and Canadian rapeseed meal [CRM]) on growth, antioxidant capacity, non-specific immunity and Aeromonas hydrophila infection tolerance in 990 fingering (average weight 12.77 ± 0.01 g) rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). A basal diet was prepared using fishmeal and soybean meal as the main protein sources, the other 10 diets were formulated with five types of RSM at 20% (C95RM20, C200RM20, CPRC20, IRM20, CRM20) or 35% (C95RM35, C200RM35, CPRC35, IRM35, CRM35) inclusion levels to replace iso-nitrogenous soybean meal. Regardless of the RSM source, dietary inclusion of 20% RSM significantly reduced the weight gain rate (WGR) and digestive enzymes activities (except C200RM20) of fish, but increased the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content (except CRM20). Fish fed with CPRC20 and IRM20 exhibited relatively higher plasma cortisol and MDA content, but lower content/activities of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in plasma, lysozyme (LZM) and complement 3 (C3) in serum, catalase (CAT) in liver, and respiratory burst activity (RBA) of head kidney macrophages. The intestinal and hepatic tissues fed with 20% RSM were damaged to some extent, with the CPRC20 and IRM20 groups being the most severely affected. Regardless of the RSM source, dietary inclusion of 35% RSM significantly decreased WGR and digestive enzymes activities, but significantly increased plasma BUN and MDA content. The fish fed with CPRC35 and IRM35 exhibited relatively higher plasma cortisol, MDA, serum triglyceride, BUN content, but lower content/activities of T3, T4, C3, and LZM in serum, CAT, peroxidase and GPx in plasma, CAT in liver, RBA and phagocytic activity of head kidney macrophage. The hepatic and intestinal tissues damage was the worst in the IRM35 group among the 35% RSM inclusion groups. These results indicate that including ≥20% RSM in the diet, regardless of the source, reduced the growth, antioxidant capacity, immunity, and survival to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in rainbow trout.

Pilot scale extraction of protein from cold and hot-pressed rapeseed cake: Preliminary studies on the effect of upstream mechanical processing

It is important from a techno-economic perspective to understand the challenges associated with developing scalable processes to extract functional proteins from rapeseed cake for applications as functional food ingredients. One of these challenges is to develop a better understanding of the link between upstream mechanical processing of the rapeseed cake and the yield of extracted protein. An initial trial with cold pressed rapeseed cake (CPR) indicated that wet milling had no impact on protein yield. Measurement of protein yields with the Bradford assay indicated that 14% would be recovered. The total protein recovered (5.4% by Kjeldahl analysis) contained a glucosinolate and phytate content that was similar to the rapeseed cake at the start of the process. The fate of the protein extraction was followed during a pilot scale trial with hot-pressed rapeseed cake (HPR), using only stirring followed by sieving, revealing an increase in protein yields, as determined by the Bradford assay, from 8.0% at the start to 22.6% at the end of processing. In addition, only 16% of HPR was solubilized. A similar pilot scale trial with HPR using wet milling and stirring followed by decanting also showed an increase in protein concentration from 15.3% at the start to 23.7% at the end of processing. In addition, 38% of HPR was solubilized. This study provides an insight into what the effect of upstream mechanical processing (wet milling) has in releasing protein from rapeseed cake in order to improve process efficiency. This could have important consequences for upscaling and commercial extraction of rapeseed cake protein.

Evaluating the Inclusion of Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Cake in the Concentrate for Dairy Cows upon Ruminal Biohydrogenation Process, Ruminal Microbial Community and Milk Production and Acceptability.

Simple SummarySoybean meal and palm oil are important protein and energy sources in European livestock production, respectively. In the next decades, the demand for these feedstuffs is supposed to increase as the world population and its demand for meat and dairy products increases. Alternatives to replace those feedstuffs are necessary. It is necessary to promote low-input, local, and circular production systems: in this sense, adopting feeding systems that use cheaper and local alternative feedstuffs represents a good strategy. One of them is the product obtained after a simple pressing process for the production of biofuels. Cold pressing usually produces oil that can be used as biofuel and a cake rich in fat and with high oil quality but with lower protein content than the conventionally solvent-extracted cakes. Therefore, the availability of cold-pressed cakes can represent an example of integration between the industry and livestock production. The objective of this study was to assess the suitability of formulating cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CPRC) in a dairy cows’ concentrate as a substitute for conventional feedstuffs. Feeding CPRC has the advantage of slightly improving the milk fatty acid profile and consumer acceptance. In conclusion, CPRC can replace conventional feedstuffs without detrimental effects on milk production and composition.The aim of this trial was to assess the effect of feeding a concentrate including cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CPRC) on productive performance, milk quality and its sensory properties, ruminal biohydrogenation, and bacterial communities. Eighteen cows were paired, and two experimental diets (control vs. CPRC) were distributed within the pair. Concentrates were iso-energetic and iso-proteic and contained similar amounts of fat. The average days in milk, milk yield, and body weight of the animals were (mean ± SD) 172 ± 112 d, 585 ± 26 kg, and 25.4 ± 6.2 kg/d, respectively. The experiment lasted for 10 wk. Feeding CPRC resulted in lower ruminal saturated (p < 0.001) and higher monounsaturated (p = 0.002) fatty acids. Feeding CPRC increased Ruminococcus, Prevotella, and Entodinium but decreased Blautia; p-75-a5; undefined genera within orders Clostridiaceae and RF39 and within families Christensenellaceae, Lachnospiracease, and Ruminococcaceae; and fungi from the phylum neocallimastigomycota. The milk fatty acid profile was characterized by a lower n6:n3 ratio (p = 0.028). Feeding CPRC did not affect the milk yield, milk quality, or fat corrected milk (p > 0.05). Feeding CPRC improved the overall milk acceptability (p = 0.047). In conclusion, CPRC affected some microbial taxa, modified the biohydrogenation process, and improved the milk fatty acid profile and consumer acceptance without detrimental effects on milk production and composition.

The effects of rapeseed cake intake during the finishing period on the fatty-acid composition of the longissimus muscle of Limousin steers and changes in meat colour and lipid oxidation during storage

Context Cold-pressed rapeseed cake is a by-product of biodiesel manufacturing that can be obtained on-farm after simple mechanical extraction of the oil. It has a high crude fat content and contains significant amounts of linoleic acid, which make it a promising lipid supplement to modulate meat fatty acid profile. However, previous studies have indicated that using unsaturated fats in beef cattle diets could promote lipid oxidation and reduce meat redness. Aims The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation of intensively fattened beef steers with cold-pressed rapeseed cake on the fatty acid composition of beef fat and changes in measures of meat colour and lipid oxidation during 6 days of aerobic storage. Methods Sixteen Limousin steers were divided into two homogeneous groups and were fed ad libitum with barley straw and a concentrate mixture supplemented with either PROGRAS (PROGRAS at 2.7% of the diet, high in palmitic acid C16:0 from palm oil; CTR, experimental control; n = 8) or cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CPRC at 14.8% of the diet; CPRC treatment; n = 8) for a period of 9 months. The growth performance and carcass traits were assessed. The intramuscular fatty acids were analysed and the colour stability and lipid oxidation were measured in meat stored aerobically at 4°C for 0, 3 or 6 days. Key results Slaughter bodyweight and average daily gain were not affected by the inclusion of CPRC in the diet. Nor were there any changes in carcass weight, conformation or fatness. The longissimus thoracis from CPRC-fed animals depicted a higher UFA–SFA ratio and a lower atherogenic index than did that from animals fed CTR. Feeding CPRC increased the oleic acid , the vaccenic acid and the rumenic acid proportions in the muscle fat without affecting the ratio of C18:1 trans-10 to C18:1 trans-11. The extents of lipid oxidation and colour deterioration during aging were not affected by the dietary treatments. Conclusions The use of cold-pressed rapeseed cake as a lipid supplement in beef-steer diet improved the fatty acid profile of muscle fat without compromising meat oxidative stability, animal growth performance and carcass characteristics. Implications The supplementation of beef-steer diet with cold-pressed rapeseed cake could be an advantageous economical strategy allowing exploitation of an important by-product of small-scale biodiesel manufacturing to provide consumers with healthier meat.

Apparent nutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and microbial protein synthesis in sheep supplemented with different vegetable fats

The objective of the present study was to delineate the effect of different vegetable lipid supplements on apparent nutrients digestibility, nitrogen (N) metabolism and microbial protein synthesis in sheep reared under intensive conditions. Three Latxa sheep were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square design, with three 21-day periods (14-day adaptation and a 7-day sample collection each period), and were fed barley straw plus a concentrate mixture supplemented with (1) prilled palm fat (PALM), (2) cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CPRC) or (3) cold-pressed sunflower cake (CPSC). Organic matter intake did not differ among dietary treatments (P = 0.246). No significant differences were found between PALM and CPRC for apparent nutrients digestibility (P &amp;gt; 0.05), (N) balance (P &amp;gt; 0.05) or microbial protein synthesis (P &amp;gt; 0.05). The CPSC diet did not affect (N) intake (P = 0.481) and faecal losses (P = 0.753), but increased urinary N excretion (P = 0.030), and decreased N retention (P = 0.034), compared with PALM. Daily microbial protein synthesis, expressed as mmol of microbial N/day, was reduced by 18% with CPSC, compared with PALM (P = 0.001). Decreased microbial (N) supply was mainly due to a decline in the amount of substrate available for microbial protein synthesis due to a lower organic matter digestibility in CPSC-fed sheep. Overall, substituting palm fat with cold-pressed rapeseed cake in a high-concentrate fattening diet of sheep did not alter feed digestibility, efficiency of N utilisation or microbial protein synthesis. In contrast, replacing palm fat with cold-pressed sunflower cake reduced organic matter digestibility, increased (N) urinary losses and reduced microbial protein supply to the host animal.

The Effect of Hydrothermally Processed Soybean- and Rapeseed-Based Diets on Performance, Meat and Carcass Quality Characteristics in Growing-Finishing Pigs

Abstract The experiment was performed on 60 crossbred weaners with average initial body weight (BW) of 22 kg. The animals were divided into 4 groups, with 15 animals (10 males and 5 females) per group, based on the percentage content of the following components in complete diets: soybean meal, toasted full-fat soybeans, cold-pressed rapeseed cake with increased oil content, extruded rapeseed cake with increased oil content. The growth performance of pigs, carcass characteristics, meat quality and the fatty acid profile of depot fat were determined. The pigs fed complete diets containing toasted soybeans had higher average daily gain (ADG). The animals receiving cold-pressed rapeseed cake were characterised by lower ADG and higher FCR. The carcasses of pigs fed diets containing cold-pressed rapeseed cake and extruded rapeseed cake had lower lean content than the carcasses of pigs administered toasted soybeans. The analysed feedstuffs had no effect on back-fat thickness or meat quality. Cold-pressed and extruded rapeseed cake contributed to changes in the fatty acid profile of backfat, including an increase in the concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and a more desirable n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. The extrusion processing of rapeseed cake decreased the content of lysine and methionine with cystine by approximately 4%, and reduced total glucosinolate content by approximately 17%. The inclusion of toasted soybeans in pig diets contributed to higher BW gain and carcass dressing percentage. Rapeseed cake with increased oil content led to desirable changes in the fatty acid profile of backfat.

Effects of feeding UFA-rich cold-pressed oilseed cakes and sainfoin on dairy ewes’ milk fatty acid profile and curd sensory properties

A lactation study was carried out utilizing 72 ewes in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement involving two forages: Tall fescue (FES) and sainfoin (SAIN) hays; and 3 concentrates, which contained hydrogenated prilled palm fat (CTR), cold-pressed sunflower cake (SUN) or cold-pressed rapeseed cake (RPS) as fat sources. Ewes were divided into 6 equilibrated groups of 12 ewes each, according to milk yield and days in milk. Concentrates were offered individually and forage was group fed ad libitum. Milk yield was daily recorded; individual samples of milk were taken for fat, protein, lactose and for fatty acid (FA) composition analysis. Dry matter intake (DMI) and organic matter apparent digestibility (OMD) were estimated using two markers. Feeding behaviour was recorded for 48 h. Blood samples were collected for non-esterified fatty acids, blood urea nitrogen and IGF-1 determinations. Curd acceptance test was carried out using a non-trained sensory panel using a 10-point line scale for the attributes of appearance, flavour, odour, texture and overall acceptability. Milk yield and composition were analysed using the MIXED procedure for repeated measures with fixed effects of concentrate, forage and week, their interaction and the initial record measured at week 0 as covariate, and day and ewe as random effects. Total, hay and concentrate DMI, OMD, plasma metabolites and milk FA profile were analysed using the GLM procedure. Feeding behaviour and sensorial data were analysed using the previous statistical model but without including a covariate. SUN reduced milk total saturated fatty acids (SFA) compared to CTR with both forages, while RPS only reduced SFA with SAIN. Polyunsaturated FA were increased with both cakes and SAIN. SUN increased n-6:n-3 ratio compared to CTR (+54%) and RPS (+62%), and SAIN reduced this ratio compared to FES (−27%). SUN reduced milk index of atherogenicity compared to CTR (up to −33%) with both forages, while RPS reduced (up to −31%) this index only with SAIN. Concentrate did not affect milk production, digestibility and intake, but SAIN increased these traits together with plasma IGF-1. Neither concentrate nor forage affected curd acceptance traits. Healthier milk can be obtained with cakes. Nevertheless the forage used in the ration seems to be of great importance. Neither cakes nor SAIN had a detrimental effect on digestibility, production performance or curd acceptance in lactating ewes.

Effect of replacing palm fat with high-linoleic cold-pressed rapeseed or sunflower cakes on fatty acid biohydrogenation in an artificial rumen (Rusitec)

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of substituting high-linoleic cold-pressed rapeseed or sunflower cakes for palm fat on fatty acids biohydrogenation in an artificial rumen. Three isoproteic and isolipidic diets (forage : concentrate ratio 10 : 90) were evaluated. The three diets consisted of barley straw plus a concentrate mixture supplemented with (1) prilled palm fat (CTR, Control), (2) cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CPRC treatment) or (3) cold-pressed sunflower cake (CPSC treatment) as a lipid source. The assay was conducted using a Rusitec unit consisting of six vessels (two vessels per treatment). After 7-day adaptation period, nutrients disappearance, rumen fermentation parameters and fatty acid profile of rumen digesta were determined for 3 days. CPRC treatment had no effect on nutrients disappearances and rumen fermentation. In contrast, CPSC reduced neutral detergent fibre (P = 0.04), acid detergent fibre (P = 0.01), protein (P = 0.01), organic matter (P &lt; 0.01) and dry matter (P = 0.01) disappearances, compared with CTR and CPRC. CPSC also decreased total volatile fatty acids (P = 0.01) production and shifted rumen fermentation pattern towards lower acetate (P = 0.03) and higher propionate proportion (P = 0.01), in comparison to CTR and CPRC. Both CPRC and CPSC altered the fatty acids composition of ruminal digesta by decreasing the total saturated fatty acids (P &lt; 0.01) and increasing the accumulation of C18:0 (P &lt; 0.01), total C18:1 cis (P &lt; 0.01) and total C18:1 trans (P &lt; 0.01). Vaccenic acid was increased (P &lt; 0.01) 2.18-fold by CPRC and 4.09-fold by CPSC. C18:1 trans-10 : trans-11 ratio remained constant among treatments (P = 0.31). Rumenic acid was not affected by CPRC but was increased (P = 0.04) 4.25- and 2.83-fold by CPSC compared with CTR and CPRC, respectively. Overall, feeding CPRC or CPSC to ruminants might improve the ruminal fatty acid profile mainly by reducing saturated fatty acids and promoting cis-monounsaturated fatty acids and vaccenic acid accumulation without altering the trans-10 : trans-11 ratio. These changes in rumen fatty acid composition could occur without detrimental effects on ruminal fermentation for CPRC but they might be associated with impaired rumen function for CPSC.

Effects of incorporating in diets cold-pressed rapeseed cake on the growth performance, nutrient utilization, and body composition of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Abstract Alternative proteins from vegetal sources are being studied, because of the high costs and limited resources of fish meal. The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of including cold-pressed rape cake (CPRC) as a partial protein substitute in diets for common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. Common carp fry were stocked into experimental ponds at a density of 30 fish per pond. The effects on growth, feeding efficiency, and fish body composition were studied for four amounts of CPRC (0, 70, 130, 200 g × kg-1). Statistically significant higher final weights (528-530 g) were obtained with fish fed diets with 130 and 200 g × kg-1 CPRC. The fish growth rate was nearly identical in all variants (SGR of 3.3-3.4 % d-1). Similar results were presented in FCR at 1.3, and in PER at 2.2. Our results suggest that it is possible to include up to 200 g × kg-1 of CPRC in diets for two-year old common carp without significant effects on growth, nutritive efficiency, or the proximate composition of the fish.

Effects of maize crop maturity at harvest and dietary inclusion rate of maize silage on feed intake and performance in lambs fed high-concentrate diets

This study investigated the effects of maize maturity at harvest and dietary inclusion rate of maize silage on feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and carcass traits of growing ram lambs fed high-concentrate diets. Precision-chopped maize was harvested at two stages of maturity (Early: dough stage and Late: dent stage) and ensiled as round bales. Early or late cut maize silage was fed as the sole forage or together with grass silage, to 40 ram lambs in each of two consecutive years. The four treatments in each year were: (1) early cut maize silage as 50% of the forage dry matter (DM) proportion (E50), (2) early cut maize silage as 100% of the forage DM proportion (E100), (3) late cut maize silage as 50% of the forage DM proportion (L50) and (4) late cut maize silage as 100% of the forage DM proportion (L100). The proportion of forage in each of the diets was on average 42% on a dry matter (DM) basis and the concentrate consisted of dried distillers’ grains plus solubles, rolled barley and cold-pressed rapeseed cake in year 1 (Y1) or heat-treated rapeseed expeller in year 2 (Y2). Daily DM intake (DMI) was 1.24 and 1.40kg, averaged over treatments, in Y1 and Y2, respectively. Increasing the dietary inclusion rate of maize silage from 50 to 100% of the forage DM proportion resulted in increased DMI in Y1 (P<0.05) and increased carcass fatness in Y2 (P<0.01), whereas increased maturity stage at harvest tended to result in increased DMI in Y2 (P<0.10). Feed conversion ratio (FCR; kg DMI per kg ADG), was lower for the treatments E100 and L50 than for E50 and L100, respectively (P<0.01) in Y2. The body weight of the lambs increased linearly over time, in both years. In conclusion, maize silage can replace grass silage in the diets of high-producing lambs. Increased metabolizable protein (MP) to metabolizable energy (ME) ratio of the diet increased ADG of the lambs. Also, increased ADG decreased mega joule ME intake per kg ADG, in finishing lambs.

Using clover/grass silage as a protein feed for dairy bull calves

Soybean meal (SBM) is globally used as a protein feed of good nutritional quality, e.g. for calves. However, the environmental impact of soybean cultivation is often questioned and SBM can therefore of ethical reasons be replaced by nitrogen-fixing forage and grain legumes and rapeseed products. In two experiments (exp.), we examined whether feeding dairy bull calves forages with a high inclusion of red clover together with cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CRC; exps. 1 and 2) and field bean (FB; exp. 2) met their protein requirement for proper growth, and calculated the profitability of using these diets. The calves were allocated to one of three protein feed treatments per experiment and studied from 97 to 275 kg live weight. In exp. 1, red clover/grass silage was combined with either smaller or greater amounts of CRC, which was compared with SBM. In exp. 2, red clover/grass silage, CRC and FB were combined with silage constituting 40, 50 or 60 % of DM in the total diet, to find the best combination. The profitability was calculated as value of calf gain minus feed costs. Soybean meal gave the highest live weight gain (LWG) and profitability in exp. 1, closely followed by the diet with greater amount of CRC together with clover/grass silage. In exp. 2, the diets with 40 or 50 % silage resulted in similar DM intake and LWG, both higher than with 60 % silage. At conventional prices, the 40 % silage diet had the highest profitability, whereas at organic prices, the 50 % silage diet was more profitable.

Cold-pressed rapeseed cake or full fat rapeseed to organic dairy cows—milk production and profitability

The interest in growing and feeding locally produced feeds is increasing. Case studies in Sweden have shown that feeds grown on-farm are more environmentally favourable than imported feeds, partly due to the lower energy requirements for transport. Full fat rapeseed (FFRS) and its co-product cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CRC) can both be locally produced, and CRC has been proven to be suitable for dairy cows. In both feeds, fat content limits the amount that can be supplemented in the diet, and less FFRS than CRC can be used. However, in a previous study with scenario calculations, CRC showed lower profitability than FFRS. The present study examined how milk yield and milk composition were influenced by feeding FFRS compared with CRC in organic diets and calculated the farm profitability on each occasion. The study was performed using 56 Swedish Holstein cows in different lactation stages. Diets were 100 % organic, including a mixed ration (silage, grains and minerals) fed ad libitum and a restricted amount of concentrates (field beans together with either CRC or ground FFRS). There were no significant differences in milk yield and composition between the diets. However, cows fed FFRS had a higher intake of the mixed ration than cows fed CRC. Cows fed CRC had the highest profitability in later lactation, whereas the diets were economically similar during early lactation.

Effects of maize maturity at harvest and dietary proportion of maize silage on intake and performance of growing/finishing bulls

Whole-crop maize silage as forage in diets of finishing cattle can promote high intakes and thus, enhances animal performance. In the present study we evaluated the effect of whole-crop maize maturity at harvest and the proportion of maize-silage in diets of finishing bulls, on feed intake and performance. An indoor experiment with 64 dairy bulls was replicated over two consecutive rearing periods, under the same experimental design. Two groups of 4 light and two groups of 4 heavy bulls were randomly allocated into one of the 4 dietary treatments, which formed a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments, involving two maturity stages of maize at harvest (i.e. dough stage or dent stage) and two maize silage proportions (i.e. 100% maize silage or 50% maize and 50% grass silage). The diets were offered ad libitum as total mixed rations (TMRs) with inclusion of concentrates (i.e. rolled barley; dried distillers’ grain plus soluble; cold-pressed rapeseed cake) in a 40% proportion on DM basis. All animals were slaughtered at a target body weight of 630kg. Bulls fed on diets containing maize silage as sole forage achieved higher live-weight gain (P<0.01) compared to their counterparts. This is likely due to the higher ME (P<0.01) and CP (P<0.001) intakes they achieved. Interestingly, the dough stage compared to dent stage maturity of maize at harvest tended to increase live-weight gain (P=0.06).

Status of vitamins E and A and β-carotene and health in organic dairy cows fed a diet without synthetic vitamins

Synthetic vitamin supplementation is not consistent with organic production, so it is important to investigate whether dairy cows can maintain their health and production without synthetic vitamins being added to their diet. In basic dairy cow diets, provitamin A (β-carotene) and vitamin E are mainly found in pasture and in grass and legume silages, but the concentrations are highly variable. This study compared the vitamin status and health of cows without synthetic vitamin supplementation (NSV group) with control cows (CON group) fed synthetic vitamins according to Swedish recommendations (600 IU of vitamin E and 80,000 IU of vitamin A per cow per day) to investigate whether dairy cows can fulfill their requirements of vitamins A and E without supplementation with synthetic vitamins. Vitamin concentrations in blood plasma and milk, health, fertility, milk yield, and milk composition were measured in Swedish Holstein cows (n=28) during 2 complete lactations. All cows were fed a 100% organic diet containing grass-legume silage, cold-pressed rapeseed cake, peas, cereal grains, and minerals. Blood samples were collected from each cow 3wk before expected calving, at calving, and 3wk, 3 to 5mo, and 7 to 9mo after calving. Samples of colostrum were taken and milk samples were collected 4d after calving and at the same time as the 3 blood samplings after calving. The only difference in vitamin status between groups was found in colostrum in yr 1, when CON cows tended to have a higher concentration of α-tocopherol, and their β-carotene concentration was higher compared with NSV cows. The NSV cows tended to have more cases of mastitis than CON cows in yr 2. Within the NSV group, fewer cows were healthy and more cases of mastitis were observed in yr 2 than in yr 1. The groups did not differ in production parameters. In conclusion, the vitamin status in blood and milk of the studied cows indicated that cows in organic dairy production can fulfill their requirements of vitamins A and E without any supplementation of synthetic vitamins, except at the time around calving, when the requirements are high. However, the impaired health of NSV cows in yr 2 may indicate a long-term negative health effect in cows fed no synthetic vitamins.

Effect of type and inclusion level of cold-pressed oilseed cakes on in vitro rumen fermentation

The current study was conducted to explore the impact of inclusion of different types and levels of cold-pressed oilseed cakes on in vitro rumen fermentation and gas production parameters. Two batch fermentation trials (24 and 96 h) were conducted using the in vitro gas production technique. In each trial, three types of lipid sources [palm fat (PF), cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CPRC) and cold-pressed sunflower cake (CPSC)] × two levels of total fat (30 and 60 g/kg DM) were evaluated. Incubated substrates were made from iso-energetic and isoproteic basal mixtures of barley straw and concentrate (ratio 10 : 90). During the 24-h incubation trial, samples were collected 24 h post-incubation to measure volatile fatty acids (VFA) and methane production. The 96-h incubation was used to assess the rate and extent of in vitro gas production. CPSC showed lower total VFA (P &lt; 0.001) and methane (P &lt; 0.001) production, compared with PF and CPRC. High fat level decreased total VFA (P &lt; 0.001) and methane (P &lt; 0.001) production compared with low level of inclusion. Molar proportions of individual VFA and acetate to propionate ratio were not affected by lipid supplementation. CPSC reduced (P = 0.006) asymptotic gas production at high fat level, compared with PF and CPRC. Neither supplementation level nor type of lipid affected the fractional gas production rate or lag time. In conclusion, there was no difference in ruminal fermentation when either CPRC or PF were added but CPSC altered microbial fermentation in vitro at a total fat level of 60 g/kg DM.

Cold-pressed rapeseed cake as a component of the diet of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): effects on growth, nutrient utilization, body composition and meat quality

The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of inclusion of cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CPRC) in diets for common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. Four isonitrogenous (322 g kg−1 crude protein) and isoenergetic diets (17.5 MJ kg−1) with four levels of CPRC incorporation 0, 110, 220 and 330 g kg−1 (treatments RC0, RC11, RC22 and RC33, respectively) were evaluated in a 50-day growth test with common carp of 500 g initial weight. Statistically significant higher final weights (1215–1243 g) were obtained in fish fed diets including CPRC. Fish growth rates were nearly identical in all treatments (specific growth rate of 1.7–1.8% day−1). Similar results were obtained in respect of feeding coefficients (FCR) that ranged from 1.6 to 1.8. Crude protein and ash concentration in fish bodies did not change. Statistically significant decreases in moisture content were found in carp in groups RC22 and RC33. Statistically significant increase of crude lipid in fish bodies were found in groups RC22 and RC33. The slaughter traits and meat quality analysis of carp did not show significant differences. We conclude that it is possible to include up to 330 g kg−1 of CPRC in diets of 2-year-old common carp without significant effects on growth and food utilization.

Standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in some cereals, rapeseed products and maize DDGS for broiler chickens at the age of 14 days

The experiment was conducted to assess the ileal digestibility values for the purpose of evaluating the ability of 14-day-old broilers to utilize the amino acids (AA) from different plant feeds. The feeds included two cereals: maize and wheat; full-fat seeds of rape (FRS); four local by-product: cold-pressed rapeseed cake (RC1), rapeseed cake from precooked (90°C) seeds (RC2), solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (RSM), maize distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and soyabean meal (SBM), used as the model protein feed. The standardized ileal digestibilities of AA (SID) were measured using the assay diets containing Cr 2 O 3 as an indigestible marker. A protein-free diet was formulated to estimate the basal ileal endogenous AA losses. Dietary protein in the assay diets was supplied solely by the test ingredients. Each diet was offered for 5 days to 4 replicate cages of 12 birds. For wheat the SID coefficients of most AA were significantly or numerically greater compared with maize. The numerical superiority of the SBM over all the other protein sources tested was found for SID of most AA, with statistically confirmed differences for threonine, tryptophan, serine and tyrosine. Among protein feeds examined DDGS had the lowest digestibility of lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan and cystine. Of the four rapeseed feeds, RSM had the lowest digestibility of lysine, histidine, alanine, glycine and serine. Considering the SID of the 18 amino acids, protein-rich feeds tested in this study were ranked as follows: SBM > RC1 > RC2 > FRS > RSM > DDGS. However, the SID values of lysine and methionine in both rapeseed cakes (RC1 and RC2) were comparable to those obtained for SBM.

New methodology for estimating rumen protein degradation using the in vitro gas production technique

This paper explores the possibility of estimating in vitro degradable crude protein (IVDP) and effective crude protein (CP) degradation (EPD) of protein feeds in the rumen using a new method based on the in vitro gas production (GP) technique of Raab et al. [Raab, L., Cafantaris, B., Jilg, T., Menke, K.H., 1983. Rumen protein degradation and biosynthesis. 1. A new method for determination of protein degradation in rumen fluid in vitro. Br. J. Nutr. 50, 569–582]. Cold -pressed hempseed cake, cold-pressed rapeseed cake, rapeseed expeller, heat-treated rapeseed meal and soybean meal, used as test feeds, were incubated with buffered rumen fluid and carbohydrates at four concentrations, and amounts of ammonia-N and gas produced were measured after 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, and 30 h. The new GP technique included a number of methodological changes. Samples for ammonia-N analysis were collected from the same flask at every sampling time, and rumen fluid was pre-incubated with carbohydrates to enhance microbial activity and reduce background ammonia-N levels. Results using the new methodology showed that feed, time and feed × time interaction all affected IVDP estimates ( P<0.01). Estimated EPD values obtained using the GP method were affected by feed ( P<0.001), and were 0.33, 0.36, 0.46, 0.59 and 0.67 for hempseed cake, rapeseed meal, rapeseed expeller, rapeseed cake and soybean meal, respectively. We conclude that the new GP technique, compared to the original method, can provide more practical estimates of IVDP that enable calculations of EPD values of protein feeds. Additional studies are required to further validate the reliability of the method using feeds with known in vivo responses in order to develop the technique into a useful method for estimating CP degradation in the rumen.

Feeding weaned piglets and growing-finishing pigs with diets based on mainly home-grown organic feedstuffs

In 2000, EU regulations for organic animal production set new guidelines for organic pig feeding requiring that this be based on mainly home-grown organic feedstuffs. Doubts were however raised whether these feeding regimes can maintain good growth performance and carcass quality of pigs. Three experiments were carried out to study different organic feeding regimes in weaned piglets and fattening pigs. In Experiment 1, we evaluated the use of peas and faba beans (0, 120, or 240 g kg-1) in diets for weaned piglets. Piglets fed pea diets performed as well as those fed the control diet, whereas the highest faba bean level resulted in reduced feed intake and growth performance. In Experiment 2, we studied the replacement (0, 33, or 67%) of rapeseed cake with blue lupins in fattening pig diets. The dietary lupin level had a quadratic effect on the weight gain of growing pigs, the best performance being observed at the 33% replacement level. However, dietary lupin level did not influence weight gain during the finishing period and total fattening. Back fat became softer with increasing dietary lupin levels. In Experiment 3, different protein supplements were compared in organic diets from weaning to slaughter. In two-phase feeding, the best performance was observed when whey protein was used as the protein supplement, followed by soya bean cake + whey protein and rapeseed cake + fish meal. The effects of a one-phase organic feeding regime with cold-pressed rapeseed cake + whey protein did not differ from those of the two-phase organic feeding regimes. Fattening pigs fed organic diets required from two to seven days longer to reach slaughter weight than those fed conventional diets. Pigs fed organic diets had fatter carcasses, but the eating quality of organic pork did not differ from that of pork from pigs fed conventional diets. Feed costs and the circulation rate of pigs, weaners in particular, were greater and carcass prices lower in the organic feeding regimes than in the conventional ones.;

Performance of dairy cows fed an entirely organic diet containing cold-pressed rapeseed cake

Organic dairy production will be based entirely on organically grown feeds as of 2008, and thereby a demand is created to find suitable feeds that are possible to grow locally. The aim of this experiment was to investigate whether milk yield and milk composition were maintained when cows were fed a 100% organic diet, with around 15% of dietary DM from cold-pressed organic rapeseed cake, compared to a 95% organic diet, in which a conventional protein source was used. Two experimental groups included 20 cows each and the study was carried out during two indoor periods. For cows fed the rapeseed cake diet, milk yield increased by 3.0 kg/day, but contents of milk fat and milk protein of multiparous cows decreased, resulting in similar yields of energy-corrected milk in early lactation. Milk from cows fed rapeseed cake had increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, including conjugated linoleic acid. In conclusion, it is possible to maintain milk production of dairy cows fed 100% organic feedstuffs using cold-pressed rapeseed cake as the main protein source compared to a 95% organic ration.