Extracted Rapeseed Meal Research Articles

Possible Uses of Decommissioned Coke Batteries

Since the 80s of the 20th century, as a result of the reduction in demand for coke, economic crises and the availability of coking coal, the operations of coke plants in Europe have been ending. Furthermore, the pressure for using renewable energy sources continues to increase, including the production of fuels. In most cases, the current solution is to add biocomponents to fuels produced in the classical way from oil. There are considerations about reusing these coke batteries, this time for the production of liquid fuels. Therefore, this work is devoted to the processing of biomaterials mixed with brown coal by the pyrolytic process. Extracted rapeseed meal, sunflower seed husks and dry distillery grain with solubles (DDGS) were selected as biomaterials. They are waste material from various productions, but these materials also show good energy potential. The brown coal came from the ČSA quarry, which is characterized by a low content of sulfur and ash and also improves the properties of liquid pyrolysis products, because it reduces polarity of organic phase, which enables easier separation of the aqueous and liquid phases of the product. Pyrolysis experiments were carried out in two different pyrolysis devices - i) in a micropyrolysis unit (sample loading: in the order of mg, heating rate: 100 °C s-1, fast removal of pyrolysis products); ii) in the pilot unit (sample weight: approx. 10 kg, heating rate: 5.2 °C min-1 and slower removal of pyrolysis products, cuboid shape of the pyrolysis retort simulating a coke oven battery). On the basis of mass balances and characteristics of micropyrolysis products, the pyrolysis temperature for pilot experiments was set at 650 °C. Behind the pyrolysis retort of the pilot unit, a thermic-catalytic reactor (catalyst: sulfurized aluminosilicate based on Ni-W) was connected in order to improve the quality of volatile pyrolysis products. The highest yields of organic phases of liquid products came from co-pyrolysis of coal and DDGS and coal with rapeseed meal. However, the characteristics of organic phases determined as the most advantageous material for the pyrolytic processing the rapeseed meal (specifically a higher proportion of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, a lower proportion of hydrocarbons with heteroatoms and a higher proportion of light fractions). The most beneficial pyrolysis mixture contained 35 % of rapeseed meal and the temperature in the catalytic part of the thermic-catalytic reactor was 300 °C.

The Effect of Diet Based on Legume Seeds and Rapeseed Meal on Pig Performance and Meat Quality.

Simple SummaryPig diets are primarily composed of cereal-based ingredients and contain soybean meal as the main protein source. A growing trend for increased protein requirements has been noted in animal nutrition. The price of extracted soybean meal fluctuates significantly, hence it is worth replacing it with mixtures based on domestic sources of protein. One of the factors that have a direct impact on the quality of meat is animal nutrition. The aim of this work was to assess the impact of a total dietary replacement of extracted soybean meal (SBM) on the body weight gain and pork quality. The fattening pigs, which were offered diets based on SBM, had similar raw meat parameters as the pigs which were fed diets based on legumes and rapeseed as protein sources.The aim of this work was to assess the impact of a total dietary replacement of extracted soybean meal (SBM) on body weight gain and pork quality. DanBred hybrid piglets were divided into four groups of 10 piglets each. Groups I (males) and II (females) were the control groups and fed a standardized SBM-based complete feed. The experimental groups III (males) and IV (females) were offered a diet in which the SBM was replaced with extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) and legume plants (pea and yellow lupin). After 83 days of fattening, the animals were slaughtered. Based on the collected data, the daily weight gain (DWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. In addition, longissimus dorsi muscle was subjected to physicochemical analyses, including the basic chemical composition. All the analyses were performed in accordance with the applicable methodologies. As a result of this experiment, no interactions were found between the experimental factors (sex and diet). The replacement of SMB by legumes and RSM resulted in a significant reduction in the final body weight of growing–finishing pigs. Additionally, daily body weight gain was reduced between 35–83 days, and through the whole fattening period (0–83 days). Most pork meat quality parameters were not affected by the type of mix feed and sex (p > 0.05). The fattening pigs that were fed legume seeds and RSM had significantly reduced fatness (p > 0.05) compared to the control pigs. In males, there was also a significantly lower pH45 (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that feeding pigs with diets containing legume plants and extracted rapeseed meal does not affect the pork meat quality, but it may worsen the body weight gain.

The effect of substitution of soybean meal with a mixture of rapeseed meal, white lupin grain, and pea grain on performance indicators, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen retention in Popielno White rabbits

ABSTRACTRabbits, bred under large-scale farming conditions, are fed pelleted complete feed containing extracted soybean meal (SBM), which is the protein source. In recent years, in certain areas of the world, a trend has emerged for the elimination of soybean meal from feed rations. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of the substitution of extracted SBM with a mixture of extracted rapeseed meal (RSM; 5–10%), white lupin (WL) grain (4–8%), and pea grain (3–6%) on production results, as well as nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention in Popielno White rabbits. The ration for the control group (C) contained 15% extracted SBM, while the ration for the experimental group (E1) contained 7.5% extracted SBM, which was partially substituted with a mixture of extracted RSM, and WL and pea grains. In the experimental group (E2) diet, soybean meal was completely substituted. The obtained results indicated that the partial or complete substitution of extracted SBM with extracted RSM, pea, and WL did not have a negative effect on production results, digestibility of nutrients, and nitrogen retention.

A primary method for reducing nitrogen oxides in coal combustion through addition of Bio-CONOx

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate an effective primary method for reducing NOx in coal combustion in a retort underfeed stoker boiler through addition of extracted rapeseed meal, i.e. via co-firing process. It is shown that the additive is characterized by slow thermodecomposition in a high temperature interval associated with a release of considerable amounts of ammonia, light hydrocarbons including methane, active free radicals, ketones, and other nitrogen compounds. Subsequently, as high amount of volatile matter contained in extracted rapeseed meal results in a local deficiency of oxygen, the concentration of NOx in the exhaust gas is reduced through two combined mechanisms: de-NOx process as in the SNCR method and reburning. The combustion tests showed that with the increased amount of the additive from around 10% to just over 30% the relative reduction of NOx emissions grows from about 15% to over 40%. This way one can reduce the NOx emissions in boilers with heat output up to 10MW. There exists a number of other biomass species that could presumably behave similarly to extracted rapeseed meal in the combustion process. This whole family of substances has been named Bio-CONOx.

Effect of feeding yeast culture on ruminal fermentation and blood indicators of Holstein dairy cows

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on ruminal fermentation in 20 Holstein dairy cows divided into control and experimental groups, each group of 10 cows. The animals received a diet based on maize silage (19 kg), alfalfa silage (15 kg), meadow hay (1.5 kg), extracted rapeseed meal (1 kg) and concentrate mixture (9.5 kg). The diets were fed as a total mixed ration. The supplement of yeast culture Levucell® SC 20 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae – CNCM I-1077; min. content 2 × 1010 CFU·g-1) was added to the concentrate mixture in the ration fed to the experimental group of animals. The addition of yeast culture significantly (P &lt; 0.01) increased ruminal pH but had no positive effects on the increased production of volatile fatty acids. The supplementation of yeast culture significantly (P &lt; 0.01) increased numbers of protozoa in the rumen of dairy cows of the experimental group (361.3 ± 18.315) compared to the control group (308.3 ± 37.505). The addition of yeast culture significantly (P &lt; 0.01) increased concentration of serum glucose, calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, magnesium and AST (P &lt; 0.05). As compared to the control group (4.948 ± 0.0384 mmol·l-1), the level of urea in the blood serum was significantly decreased (P &lt; 0.01) in the experimental group of cows. Our results show that the supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture at recommended doses enhances ruminal fermentation which may have a positive effect on milk production and health status of Holstein dairy cows.

Experimental Investigation of Hydrogen Chlorine Bonding with Limestone and Dolomite in the Furnace of a Stoker-Fired Boiler

The paper presents results of experimental semi-technical investigations to limit the mobility of chlorine released in the form of hydrogen chloride from the fuel in the stoker-fired boiler furnace. In the combustion process, limestone and dolomite were used as the sorbents. The background for the research was a fuel containing a low gram fraction of chlorine, namely, extracted rapeseed meal supplemented with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) recyclate granules, to diversify the quantity of the quick-release chlorine. The research results indicate the tendency ofchanges of the hydrogen chloride concentration in the flue gas in relation to the amount of PVC added to the fuel, i.e., gram fraction of chlorine, amount of limestone and dolomite added to the fuel, as well as the molar ratio Ca/Cl 2 or (Ca + Mg)/Cl 2 , respectively. It has been proven that the greatest dechlorination capacity is exhibited by hydrated lime, lesser by limestone, and the least by dolomite, which, nonetheless, can be used under certain conditions for HCl bonding in boiler furnaces.

Experimental Investigation of Hydrogen Chloride Bonding with Calcium Hydroxide in the Furnace of a Stoker-Fired Boiler

The paper presents the results of experimental technical investigations to limit the mobility of chlorine released in the form of hydrogen chloride from the fuel in a stoker-fired boiler furnace. In the combustion process, hydrated lime was used as the bonding material. The background for the research was a low-chlorine-gram-fraction fuel, namely, extracted rapeseed meal supplemented with PVC recyclate granules to diversify the quantity of the quick-release chlorine. The research results indicate the tendency of changes of the hydrogen chloride concentration in the flue gas in relation to the amount of PVC added to the fuel, i.e., the gram fraction of chlorine and the amount of calcium hydroxide added to the fuel, as well as the Ca/Cl2 molar ratio.

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and multivariate calibration techniques applied to modelling the crude protein, fibre and fat content in rapeseed meal

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is often applied when a rapid quantification of major components in feed is required. This technique is preferred over the other analytical techniques due to the relatively few requirements concerning sample preparations, high efficiency and low costs of the analysis. In this study, NIRS was used to control the content of crude protein, fat and fibre in extracted rapeseed meal which was produced in the local industrial crushing plant. For modelling the NIR data, the partial least squares approach (PLS) was used. The satisfactory prediction errors were equal to 1.12, 0.13 and 0.45 (expressed in percentages referring to dry mass) for crude protein, fat and fibre content, respectively. To point out the key spectral regions which are important for modelling, uninformative variable elimination PLS, PLS with jackknife-based variable elimination, PLS with bootstrap-based variable elimination and the orthogonal partial least squares approach were compared for the data studied. They enabled an easier interpretation of the calibration models in terms of absorption bands and led to similar predictions for test samples compared to the initial models.

Nitrogen degradability and intestinal digestibility of rumen undegraded protein in rapeseed, rapeseed meal and extracted rapeseed meal

In this study, nutritive values of rapeseed (R), rapeseed meal-expeller A (RM-A), rapeseed meal-expeller B (RM-B) and extracted rapeseed meal (ERM) were compared. The trials were performed using the &lt;i&gt;in sacco&lt;/i&gt; method with three steers of the Czech Fleckvieh breed, which were fitted with a permanent ruminal cannula. Nylon bags with samples were incubated in the rumen for 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 hours. The effective degradability (ED) of crude protein (CP) was calculated at 0.08, 0.06 and 0.04 1/h of rumen particulate outflow rates (&lt;i&gt;k&lt;/i&gt;), and the obtained ED values were 65.4, 70.8 and 77.4% for R, 86.7, 88.1 and 89.7% for RM-A, 82.2, 84.4 and 87.0% for RM-B and 56.3, 62.1 and 69.6% for ERM, respectively. The ED values significantly differed between feeds (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05) for all rumen particulate outflow rates. Disappearances of amino acids (AA) after 16 hours of incubation in the rumen of R, RM-A, RM-B and ERM were determined. In all cases, the concentrations of AA in the feeds determined after incubation in rumen were lower than in the original feeds. A mobile bag technique was used to determine intestinal digestibility. In the experiment, three dry cows fitted with permanent large ruminal cannula and the T-piece cannula in the proximal duodenum were used. The intestinal digestibilities of rumen undegraded CP (DSI) were estimated 30.0% in R, 15.4% in RM-A, 27.6% in RM-B and 65.3% in ERM. The DSI values significantly differ between the feeds (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05), except for the difference between R and RM-B.

Effects of Casein and Glucose on Responses of Cows Fed Diets Based on Restrictively Fermented Grass Silage

This study was conducted to investigate whether well fed dairy cows given restrictively fermented grass silage diet will respond to incremental glucose and amino acid supply at early stage of lactation. Four rumen-cannulated Finnish Ayrshire cows were used in a 4×4 Latin square experiment with 14-d periods. The cows were fed good quality restrictively fermented grass silage ensiled with a formic acid additive for ad libitum intake. A concentrate mixture consisting of barley (85%) and solvent extracted rapeseed meal (11.4%) was given at a rate of 9 kg/d. The four treatments were continuous abomasal infusions of water (control), casein 300g/d, glucose 300g/d, and casein 300g/d + glucose 300g/d. The infusions had only minor effects on feed intake, diet digestibility, or rumen fermentation pattern. Both casein and glucose infusions increased milk, protein and lactose yields the effects being partly additive on the combined infusion. Infused casein increased milk protein and urea as well as plasma urea concentrations. Both casein and glucose tended to increase plasma glucose concentration. Casein increased arterial plasma concentrations of essential amino acids (EAA), branched-chain AA (BCAA), and total AA (TAA). Both casein and glucose, although glucose usually less than casein, increased arteriovenous differences of EAA, nonessential AA, BCAA, and TAA. Extraction efficiencies of AA were higher for glucose than for casein. Mammary plasma flow was at highest on the control diet, but reduced owing to infused nutrients, the reduction being less with combined rather than separate infusions of casein and glucose. Based on the partly additive increases in milk production parameters and changes in plasma metabolites, it is suggested that glucose alone increased milk protein yield by sparing AA from hepatic utilization, while casein increased both supply of AA and glucose. It was concluded that cows at early stage of lactation fed diets comprising of restrictively fermented grass silage and a cereal-based concentrate suffer from both limited AA and glucose supplies.

Effect of offering rumen-protected fat supplements on fertility and performance in spring-calving Holstein–Friesian cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two different rumen-protected fat supplements, on reproductive performance and milk production, in grass-based spring calving cows. Two hundred and one Holstein–Friesian cows with an average lactation number of 3.6 (20% first lactation, 16% second lactation and 64% third lactation or greater) were grouped into blocks of three on the basis of calving date, lactation number and previous lactation milk yield for cows of second lactation or greater and on the basis of calving date for first lactation animals. From within-blocks individual animals were assigned at random, within 10 days post-calving, to one of the following three treatments: (1) Megalac Plus 3% (MP; 0.4 kg/day, containing Ca salt of palm fatty acids and Ca salt of methionine hydroxy analogue), (2) Megapro Gold (MPG; 1.5 kg/day, containing Ca salt of palm fatty acids, extracted rapeseed meal and whey permeate), and (3) Control (C; unsupplemented). Cows were supplemented for on average 103 days (range 54–134 days). The average milk yield over the first 12 weeks of lactation was higher ( P<0.05) for both fat supplements compared to C and was higher for MP compared to C over the full lactation. Both supplements reduced ( P<0.05) milk protein concentration over the first 6 weeks of lactation. MPG increased ( P<0.05) conception rate to first service compared to C. Conception rate to first service was similar ( P=0.14) on MP compared to C. For pregnancy to second service, C had a higher ( P<0.05) conception rate than MP. There were no significant differences between treatments in overall pregnancy rate, services per conception, number of cows served in the first 3 weeks of the breeding season or the 6-weeks in-calf rate. Comparing the combined fat treatments to C resulted in a higher ( P<0.05) conception rate to first service for the fat treatments but no significant difference in overall pregnancy rate. In conclusion, fat supplements increased conception rate to first service but did not significantly affect the proportion of cows pregnant at the end of the breeding season.

Protein and Amino Acid Digestibility in Dairy Cows Measured with Mobile Nylon Bags Recovered in Ileum or in Faeces

Digestibility of protein and amino acids in dairy cows was measured using the mobile nylon bag technique and collection of bags in ileum and in faeces. The feeds studied were untreated and expander treated barley and oats, solvent extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) and soybean meal (SBM), lignosulfonate treated SBM (SoyPass) and fish meal (FM). The nylon bags were recovered in ileum by trapping the bags with a magnet. The functionality of the technique was considered good although a metallic slice in the bags increased intestinal retention time. Compared to intact feed, pre-incubation 16 hours in the rumen increased digestibility of dietary protein and amino acids. The indigestible residues were in general lower in bags recovered in faeces than in ileum. In addition, some variation in digestibility among amino acids within feedstuffs seems to exist. The general conclusion was that the procedure of collecting bags in ileum can be skipped when digestibility of protein and amino acid is determined on rumen pre-incubated feed, but not when intact feed is used. Except for increased digestibility in intact barley, no major effect of expander treatment or lignosulfonate treatment on digestibility of protein and amino acids was found.

Digestibility of phosphorus in protein‐rich ingredients for pig diets

Two experiments were run to determine the digestibility of phosphorus in different vegetable and animal proteins for the pig diet. Each experiment comprised two 4×4 Latin squares run concurrently. Pigs initially weighing 30 kg were kept in metabolism crates and fed twice daily at about 2.5‐fold metabolisable energy requirement for maintenance. A semi‐purified basal diet low in phosphorus and without intrinsic phytase activity was fed either alone or after blending into mixtures with one of the ingredients to be tested. Mixtures were calculated to contain not more than 2 g digestible P/kg DM and between 5.0 and 6.0 g Ca/kg DM. Faeces and urine were quantitatively collected for 8 days after 7 days of adaptation. Phosphorus digestibility for ingredients under test was calculated assuming the digestibility of phosphorus from the basal diets to be constant in all diets. P digestibilities in solvent extracted soybean meal from dehulled seed, rapeseed and solvent extracted rapeseed meal were 37, 42 and 24%, respectively. Supplementation of a microbial phytase (750 U/kg diet) improved digestibility coefficients significantly to 76, 66 and 73 %, respectively. Digestibility of phosphorus in 3 different batches of fish meal ranged from 85 to 90%, without significant differences between batches. In 3 different types of carcass meal, digestibility coefficients were 80, 82 and 83% without significant differences between types, and digestibility of phosphorus from bone meal was 80 %.

Effect of rapeseed feedstuffs with different glucosinolate content and iodine administration on gestating and lactating sow.

In two experiments with a total of 60 sows during late pregnancy and at 28 days of lactation, diets containing rapeseed were compared with rapeseed free diets (control). In Experiment 1 dietary content of solvent extracted rapeseed meal was 250 g/kg (10 mmol glucosinolates/kg diet), in Experiment 2 diets containing 100 g/kg rapeseed were tested (2 mmol glucosinolates/kg diet). During late pregnancy all sows received 150 micrograms supplementary iodine/kg diet. In lactation, different subgroups received different rates of iodine administration (Exp. 1:0, 100 or 1000 micrograms/kg diet; Exp. 2: 0, 150 or 300 micrograms/kg diet). Rapeseed feeds had no significant effect on feed intake, body weight of sows and rearing parameters in both experiments. There was a tendency (8%) toward lower litter weight at weaning in Exp. 1. Sow diets without supplementary iodine but containing glucosinolates (via rapeseed meal, rapeseed) caused significant reduction in thyroxine serum concentration of piglets, whereas this hormone did not change in sow serum. Thiocyanate was significantly increased in the serum of mothers. The minor increase of thiocyanate concentration of milk and piglets' serum points to negligible transfer of rapeseed glucosinolate degradation products to offspring. However, the milk iodine concentration was significantly decreased due to glucosinolates, and this seems to be the reason for impaired iodine and thyroid hormone status of piglets from sows given rapeseed feeds.

Fattening and slaughter values of pigs in relation to their genotype and to the protein source in their feed rations

The studies were carried out on F1 progeny of multiparous Polish Large White sows and boars of Belgian Landrace, Hampshire x Pietrain hybrid, and Pietrain breed. The control group consisted of purebred Polish Large White pigs. The experimental part of the studies was performed on 120 fatteners divided up to 4 race groups, with 30 heads in each (namely 15 barrows and 15 gilts). Moreover, each group was divided into two following subgroups: the SoS one, which was given feed mixture with extracted soybean meal and the RpS one, which was given feed mixture with extracted rapeseed meal. The fattening started with 23 kg of body weight and was realized up to 100 kg. Twenty fatteners from each group (including 5 barrows and 5 gilts from a subgroup) were subjected to the control slaughter. The fatteners average daily body weight gains, and energy and digestible crude protein conversion per 1 kg of gain were as follows: after Belgain Landrace boars 788 g, 32.3 MJ and 358 g; after Hampshire x Pietrain boars 766 g, 33.6 MJ and 373 g; after Pietrain boars 720 g, 34.4 MJ and 382 g; after control group boars 705 g, 36.3 MJ and 403 g, respectively. It was found that hybrids after boars of evaluated breeds have positively (P < or = 0,01) better carcass meatness, and in a better way use digestible protein and metabolizable energy for production of 1 kg of meat. On that reason the best are hybrids after Belgian Landrace boars, carcasses of which yielded 52.4% of meat and converted 27% less of digestible crude protein and metabolizable energy for 1 kg meat production, than the White Large Polish fatteners. For no examined feature interaction between genotype and protein source in feeding diet was found. The growth rate and utilization of fodder were better for pigs fed on mixture with extracted soybean meal than for the ones fed on mixture with extracted rapeseed meal (P < or = 0.05). The fodders with high protein content did not differentiate meatness traits, whereas digestible crude protein and metabolizable energy conversion for 1 kg meat production in pigs, being given extracted soybean meal in diet, was lower (P < or = 0.05) than in pigs given extracted rapeseed meal.

Effect of Rumen Incubation on the True Indigestibility of Feed Protein in the Digestive Tract Determined by Nylon Bag Techniques

Abstract The effect of rumen incubation on the true indigestibility of feed protein in the digestive tract (TIFP) was studied for 10 concentrates. Only fish meal and soybean meal showed a constant TIFP independent of rumen incubation time or extent of rumen protein degradation. For the other feedstuffs, TIFP decreased to various degrees at increased ruminal protein degradation. For extracted rapeseed meal, maize gluten meal and guar meal, however, TIFP measured without pre-incubation in the rumen was also satisfactory as a basis for predicting the true digestibility of rumen undegraded feed protein in the intestine (TDRUP) for practical purposes. In contrast, TIFP for predicting TDRUP for peas, rapeseeds, lupin seeds, barley and oats should be determined on feed samples after rumen incubation.

Determination of digestible energy, metabolisable energy and oil digestibility of triple-low rapeseed products for growing and finishing pigs

The use of full-fat rapeseed in non-ruminant animal feeding has for long been limited by the presence of anti-nutritive components. However, triple-low varieties have a considerable potential as a source of both protein and dietary energy in diets, although there is the need for precise information on the relative nutritive value of full-fat rapeseed and the resulting extracted oils and meals before they may be effectively and economically incorporated into animal diets.The rapeseed products evaluated comprised ground full-fat rapeseed (FFRS) extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) and rapeseed oil (RSO) all from a triple-low variety, Brassica campestris SVO 333, obtained from Dalgety-Panmure Co. Angus, U.K. The RSO, RSO plus RSM (ORSM) and FFRS were included to give levels of added oil of 40, 80 and 120 g/kg at the expense of the energy-yielding ingredients of the basal diet (Table 1). The RSM was incorporated into the basal at the same rates as in ORSM. All experimental diets were fed to 13 Landrace x (Landrace x Large White) gilts of 46kg average initial live weight in a metabolism trial conducted over four successive time periods. A ten-day acclimatisation in holding pens preceded a 5-day total collection of faeces (using indigo carmine as marker) and urine (facilitated by indwelling bladder catheter) in metabolism crates. The rapeseed products, diets, oven-dried faeces and freeze-dried urine were analysed for gross energy (GE) and (except urine) for oil content. Apparent digestible energy (DE) of test materials were derived by regression analysis. DE of oil was also derived indirectly as a product of oil digestibility and oil GE.

A Rapid Method for the Evaluation of the Glucosinolate Quality of Extracted Rapeseed Meal by Total Sulphur Determination Via X‐Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

AbstractA new method for quality analysis of rapeseed meal is introduced which enables the reidentification of the glucosinolate content of seeds which have originally been used for the production of a certain rapeseed meal. This method opens also the discussion about a new and simple way for the definition of the quality of rapeseed meals based on the principle: a „double low meal”︁ is a meal that has been definitively processed by crushing double low rapeseed in the meaning of the legal definitions. The proposed method is based on the total sulphur determination in the rapeseed meal by X‐ray fluorescence analysis. The whole procedure consists only of four simple steps, heating of the meal in a microwave oven, grinding, compacting and measuring of the S‐Kα radiation in a X‐ray spectrometer taking not more than 3–5 minutes time for one sample. Therefore, the method is well suitable for the processing control in crushing plants and feedstuff production. Details of the sample preparation and the evaluation of algorithms for calculations are described and the results of model experiments are presented.

Rapeseed meal in the diet of pubertal heifers during early pregnancy

AbstractThe response of Hereford × Friesian heifers to large intakes of two types of high glucosinolate rapeseed meal were studied during two 5-month periods in consecutive years. In year 1, six heifers were given a compound concentrate food containing 250 g/kg extracted rapeseed meal and six control animals were given concentrate containing 210 g/kg soya-bean meal. In year 2, a further six heifers were given concentrate containing 320 g/kg expeller rapeseed meal and six control animals were given the same soya-bean meal compound concentrate. The crude protein (CP): metabolizable energy (ME) ratio of all diets was 14·3 g CP per MJ ME. Barley straw was the only roughage offered.There were no differences between groups in ovarian activity assessed from plasma progesterone concentrations, nor in behavioural activity around oestrus. The heifers were slaughtered 6 weeks after artificial insemination. Pregnancy rate was proportionally 0·58 (7/12) in the rape-fed and 0·67 (8/12) in the control heifers (P &gt; 0·05). Foetuses from heifers given rapeseed meal were slightly smaller than those from control heifers; the difference was significant in year 2 (P &lt; 0·05).Thyroid glands of heifers given rapeseed meal showed histological evidence of goitrogenicity but weights of the glands did not reflect this. Plasma thyroxine values were depressed in heifers given rapeseed meal (year 1, P &lt; 0·001; year 2, P &lt; 0·05). Plasma thiocyanate was elevated in rapeseed meal heifers in both years (P &lt; 0·001) compared with values for control animals.

The response of store lambs to protein supplementation of a roughage-based diet

ABSTRACTThe response of 35-kg store lambs to diets containing increasing rumen-undegradable nitrogen (UDN) concentrations was measured by live-weight gain and nitrogen (N) balance. A range of UDN concentrations from 2·4 to 7·2 g/kg dietary dry matter was achieved by supplementing a basal diet of NaOH-treated barley straw, tapioca, extracted rapeseed meal and minerals with both formaldehyde-treated rapeseed meal and fish meal. Sufficient diet to provide maintenance and a growth rate of 150 g/day was given to the lambs, according to live weight. Increasing levels of UDN promoted a linear increase in live-weight gain and N retention. However, the response to fish meal was greater than that for formaldehyde-treated rapeseed meal. The true digestibility of N of formaldehyde-treated rapeseed meal determined in chickens by ileal analysis was low in comparison to that of untreated rapeseed meal.