Solvent-extracted Rapeseed Meal Research Articles

Evaluation of rumen protected rapeseed expeller (NovaPro) as an alternative to soya bean meal in dairy cow diets

There are environmental, social and economic pressures to reduce the use of soya bean meal in ruminant diets by using alternative protein sources, such as those derived from rapeseed. A new protected form of rapeseed (NovaPro) has been developed to provide similar quantities of digestible undegradable protein (DUP) compared to soya bean meal. NovaPro is hot pressed expelled rapeseed (no hexane solvent used), treated with a specific wood derived xylose-rich lignosulphonate in the presence of elevated moisture and heat to increase DUP. The objective of this study was to evaluate NovaPro as a protein supplement for high yielding dairy cows.Four diets were formulated to supply similar quantities of metabolisable energy and protein but containing different dominant protein sources. The main protein sources were: Control – soya bean and rapeseed meals; NP1 – NovaPro and wheat dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS); PR – protected solvent-extracted rapeseed meal and wheat-DDGS; NP2 - NovaPro and SoyPass. Diets were fed to 44 cows using a Latin square design with four feeding periods of 28 days each.Milk yield was significantly higher when cows were fed on rapeseed treatment diets (mean 42.7 kg/d) than when fed on the control diet (mean 41.1 kg/d), as was energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield (mean 43.2 versus 41.7 kg/d). Dry matter intake was higher when cows were fed on NP1 and NP2 (mean 25.0 kg/d) than when they were fed on the control diet (mean 23.9 kg/d); dry matter intake for PR was intermediate (mean 24.4 kg/d). Concentrations of milk fat and protein reflected differences in milk yield, and there was no difference between treatments in fat or protein yield, although fat plus protein yield was higher when cows were fed on rapeseed treatment diets (mean 2.84 kg/d) than when fed on the control diet (mean 2.72 kg/d).Differences in rumen fluid and blood composition were commensurate with differences in diet composition, nutrient intake and milk yield. Retrospective calculation of metabolisable energy and protein supplies showed that these were within 3% of requirements for observed responses. Calculation of amino acid profiles suggested that profiles, particularly methionine, were better for the rapeseed treatment diets.Results of this study support the hypothesis that cows fed on NovaPro and other rumen protected rapeseed proteins will have similar or improved milk production compared to a control (soya-based) diet. Improved milk yield was accompanied by increased dry matter intake, but it is likely that intake was driven by milk yield rather than vice versa. The most likely explanation for improved milk yield when cows were fed on the rapeseed treatment diets is that amino acid balance was improved compared to control.

Prediction of net energy values in expeller-pressed and solvent-extracted rapeseed meal for growing pigs.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine net energy (NE) of expeller-press (EP-RSM) and solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (SE-RSM) and to establish equations for predicting the NE in rapeseed meal (RSM) fed to growing pigs.MethodsThirty-six barrows (initial body weight [BW], 41.1±2.2 kg) were allotted into 6 diets comprising a corn-soybean meal basal diet and 5 diets containing 19.50% RSM added at the expense of corn and soybean meal. The experiment had 6 periods and 6 replicate pigs per diet. During each period, the pigs were individually housed in metabolism crates for 16 days which included 7 days for adaption to diets. On day 8, pigs were transferred to respiration chambers and fed their respective diet at 2,000 kJ metabolizable energy (ME)/kg BW0.6/d. Feces and urine were collected, and daily heat production was measured from day 9 to 13. On days 14 and 15, the pigs were fed at 890 kJ ME/kg BW0.6/d and fasted on day 16 for evaluation of fasting heat production (FHP).ResultsThe FHP of pigs averaged 790 kJ/kg BW0.6/d and was not affected by the diet composition. The NE values were 10.80 and 8.45 MJ/kg DM for EP-RSM and SE-RSM, respectively. The NE value was positively correlated with gross energy (GE), digestible energy (DE), ME, and ether extract (EE). The best fit equation for NE of RSM was NE (MJ/kg DM) = 1.14×DE (MJ/kg DM)+0.46×crude protein (% of DM)–25.24 (n = 8, R2 = 0.96, p<0.01). The equation NE (MJ/kg DM) = 0.22×EE (% of DM)–0.79×ash (% of DM)+14.36 (n = 8, R2 = 0.77, p = 0.018) may be utilized to quickly determine the NE in RSM when DE or ME values are unavailable.ConclusionThe NE values of EP-RSM and SE-RSM were 10.80 and 8.45 MJ/kg DM. The NE value of RSM can be well predicted based on energy content (GE, DE, and ME) and proximate analysis.

The Effects of Oil Extraction Methods on Recovery Yield and Emulsifying Properties of Proteins from Rapeseed Meal and Press Cake.

The agricultural sector is thought to be responsible for around 30% of the anthropogenic climate change and it is well established that high meat consumption has a tremendous impact on the environment. Rapeseed is mainly used for production of vegetable oil, but press cake has high protein content with the potential for incorporation into new plant protein-based foods. Protein was recovered from press cakes generated from different oil pressing processes. Industrially cold-pressed, hot-pressed, and solvent-extracted rapeseed press cake and the effect of heat treatment in the recovery process was assessed. Protein recovery yield, protein concentration and emulsifying properties were analyzed. Cold-pressed rapeseed press cake (RPC) recovered in the absence of heat, yielded the highest protein recovery (45%) followed by hot-pressed rapeseed meal (RM) (26%) and solvent-extracted RM (5%). Exposure to heat during recovery significantly reduced the yield for cold-pressed RPC but no difference was found for hot-pressed RM. The protein recovery yield was improved for solvent-extracted RM when heat was applied in the recovery process. The ability to stabilize emulsions was highest for protein recovered from cold-pressed RPC, followed by hot-pressed RM and solvent-extracted RM, and was in the same range as commercial emulsifying agents. Heat treatment during recovery significantly reduced the emulsifying properties for all pressing methods examined. This study suggests that cold-pressed rapeseed press cake without heat in the recovery process could be a successful strategy for an efficient recovery of rapeseed protein with good emulsifying properties.

Net energy of corn, soybean meal and rapeseed meal in growing pigs

BackgroundTwo experiments were conducted to estimate the net energy (NE) of corn, soybean meal, expeller-pressed rapeseed meal (EP-RSM) and solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (SE-RSM) using indirect calorimetry and to validate the NE of these four ingredients using pig growth performance.MethodsIn Exp.1, 24 barrows (initial BW = 36.4 ± 1.6 kg) were allotted to 1 of 4 diets which included a corn basal diet, a corn-soybean meal basal diet and two rapeseed meal diets containing 20% EP-RSM (9.5% ether extract) or SE-RSM (1.1% ether extract) substituted for corn and soybean meal. The design allowed the calculation of NE values of corn, soybean meal and rapeseed meals according to the difference method. In Exp.2, 175 growing pigs (initial BW = 36.0 ± 5.2 kg) were fed 1 of 5 diets for 28 d, with five pigs per pen and seven replications (pens) per treatment in order to validate the measured energy values. Diets were a corn-soybean meal diet and four diets including 10% or 20% EP-RSM and 10% or 20% SE-RSM.ResultsThe NE of corn, soybean meal, EP-RSM and SE-RSM were 12.46, 11.34, 11.71 and 8.83 MJ/kg DM, respectively. The NE to ME ratio of corn (78%) was similar to tabular values, however, the NE to ME ratios of soybean meal (70%) and rapeseed meal (76%) were greater than tabular values. The greater NE value in EP-RSM than in SE-RSM is consistent with its higher EE content. Increasing EP-RSM or SE-RSM did not affect the growth performance of pigs and the caloric efficiency of NE was comparable for all diets.ConclusionsThe NE of EP-RSM was similar to soybean meal, and both were greater than SE-RSM. The DE, ME and NE values measured in Exp.1 are confirmed by results of Exp. 2 with comparable caloric efficiencies of DE, ME or NE for all diets.

Effects of feeding 10% rapeseed meal (Brassica napus) during gestation and lactation over three reproductive cycles on the performance of hyperprolific sows and their litters

Quiniou, N., Quinsac, A., Crépon, K., Evrard, J., Peyronnet, C., Bourdillon, A., Royer, E. and Etienne, M. 2012. Effects of feeding 10% rapeseed meal (Brassica napus) during gestation and lactation over three reproductive cycles on the performance of hyperprolific sows and their litters. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 513–524. Largely due to increased production of biodiesel, there is a greater availability of solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (RM) in France, making it competitive for feeding pigs. Nevertheless, the long-term effects of dietary glucosinolates (GSL) when feeding RM on sow reproductive and litter performance are a persistent concern to feed manufacturers. Four batches of 24 hyperprolific sows were fed to evaluate the effects of including 0 or 10% RM [14.5 µmol GLS g−1dry matter (DM) basis] in the gestation and lactation diets over three reproductive cycles. Intake of dietary GLS remained below 5 mmol d−1over the gestation period and averaged 8 mmol d−1over the lactation period, corresponding to less than 2 µmol GLS g−1DM basis. Lactation feed intake, sow body weight and backfat, and the length of the weaning-to-estrus interval were not different (P&gt;0.05) between treatment groups. Sows fed diets with 10% or no RM farrowed 43.6 and 43.8 piglets over three reproductive cycles, respectively (P&gt;0.05). Piglet weight at birth or weaning, survival and litter weight gain were not affected (P&gt;0.05) by dietary RM inclusion. Similar (P&gt;0.10) plasma thyroxin levels of sows and piglets indicated that thyroid function was not altered by RM inclusion. In conclusion, feeding gestation and lactation diets including 10% RM to hyper prolific sows over three parities was safe and did not affect sow longevity, reproductive or litter performance.

Metabolism of soluble rapeseed meal (Brassica rapa L.) protein during incubations with buffered bovine rumen contents in vitro

Accurate quantitative information on the fate of dietary protein in the rumen is central to modern metabolizable protein systems developed to improve the efficiency of nitrogen utilization in ruminants. An in vitro method was developed to estimate the rate of soluble rapeseed meal (Brassica rapa L.) protein (SRMP) degradation. Unlabeled and 15N-labeled solvent-extracted rapeseed meal were incubated alone or as an equal mixture (125mg of N/L) with buffered rumen contents and a mixture of carbohydrates formulated to provide a constant source of fermentable energy during the course of all incubations. Incubations were made over 0.33, 0.67, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, and 10.0h. Enrichment of 14N and 15N isotopes in total N of ammonia (AN), soluble nonammonia (SNAN), and insoluble (ISN) fractions liberated during incubations with test proteins was determined. A model with 4 pools that accounted for both intracellular and extracellular N transformations was used to estimate the rate of SRMP degradation. Parameter values used in the model were adjusted based on the size of A14N, A15N, SNA14N, SNA15N, IS14N, and IS15N pools, measured at different time points during incubations with buffered rumen fluid. The mean rate of N degradation for SRMP was estimated at 0.126 (SD 0.0499) h−1. No substantive difference in the rate of protein degradation or microbial protein synthesis was observed during incubations of labeled and unlabeled substrates with rumen fluid. In conclusion, combined use of data from incubations of unlabeled and 15N-labeled rapeseed protein with buffered rumen inoculum provided sufficient information to allow for estimation of parameter values in a complex dynamic model of soluble protein degradation. Results indicate the potential of the technique to evaluate the degradability of SNAN of other dietary protein sources and implicate ruminal escape of soluble rapeseed protein as an important source of amino acids in ruminants.

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.

Linear regression approach to study amino acid digestibility in broiler chickens

1. An experiment was conducted to investigate whether a linear regression approach is a suitable tool for determining the amino acid (AA) digestibility up to the terminal ileum of broiler chickens. Solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) was used as the model ingredient. 2. Ten diets with 5 different inclusion rates of RSM (60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 g/kg, corresponding to crude protein concentrations from 170 to 250 g/kg in the diet), each without or with a supplementation of phytase (500 U/kg), were fed ad libitum to broiler chickens between 14 and 21 d of age. Seven pens of 12 chickens were allocated to each treatment. Digesta were sampled on a pen basis from the section of the gastrointestinal tract between Meckel's diverticulum and 2 cm anterior to the ileo-caeco-colonic junction. Titanium dioxide was included as an indigestible marker. 3. The amounts of crude protein and AAs digested up to the terminal ileum constantly increased with increasing AA intake over the entire range of intakes. When the amount of an AA digested at the terminal ileum is linearly regressed against its intake, the deviation of the slope from 1 is caused by both the unabsorbed AA from RSM and from specific endogenous losses related to RSM. These slopes varied between 0·68 and 0·88 for individual AAs, and the slopes were unaffected by phytase supplementation. 4. It is suggested that a linear regression approach be adopted to study the AA digestibility of raw materials in chickens. Digestibility determined this way does not need any correction for basal endogenous loss.

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.

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.

Effects of Supplementation of a Grass Silage and Barley Diet with Urea, Rapeseed Meal and Heat-moisture-treated Rapeseed Cake on Omasal Digesta Flow and Milk Production in Lactating Dairy Cows

Four multiparous dairy cows, fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulas, were fed grass silage and one of four concentrates of barley (B), barley+urea (BU), barley+solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (BRM) or barley+heat-moisture-treated rapeseed cake (BRC). Despite marginal N deficiencies for the control diet (B), BU did not affect milk yield, ruminal fibre digestion or omasal total non-ammonia-N (NAN) or microbial NAN flow. In contrast, BRM and BRC diets significantly increased milk and milk protein yields and omasal dietary NAN flows. Effects of rapeseed meal (RSM) and rapeseed cake (RSC) on milk yield and omasal NAN flow were similar. The diets had no effect on rumen microbial protein synthesis. In general, non-protein N and soluble true protein comprised 0.20 of omasal total NAN flow, for all diets. Supplementary AAT from rapeseed feeds appeared to escape from the rumen as insoluble feed particles.

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.

RAPESEED, PEANUT AND SOYBEAN MEALS AS PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS WITH OR WITHOUT ADDED LYSINE: BIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF PIGS AND RATS

The supplemental values of prepress solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) from Brassica campestris cv. Span seed, solvent-extracted peanut meal (PNM) and soybean meal (SBM) with or without added lysine were compared using barley–wheat-based diets. Pietrain and crossbred-sired barrows and gilts and uncastrated male and female rats were the test species. For rate of gain with pigs, SBM, RSM and PNM ranked in that order, while for rats, PNM and SBM were similar with RSM being inferior. Partial substitution of RSM for 50 or 75% of PNM in diets of pigs tended to improve performance. Lysine addition to the PNM-supplemented diet did not significantly enhance food consumption, gain or efficiency of food conversion of rats, but there was a trend toward improvement of these criteria with pigs. No significant treatment, sex or breed differences were observed in energy digestibility or in metabolizable energy. In N retention as a percentage of intake, gilts were superior (P &lt; 0.05) to barrows, consistent with the leaner (P &lt; 0.05) carcasses of gilts. Sex, but not diets, influenced the thyroid weights of rats, with female thyroids being larger (P &lt; 0.01) than those of males. Histopathology of the thyroids ranked RSM, SBM and PNM as goitrogenic in that order. The studies indicated that comparative values of protein supplements for the rat are not necessarily indicative of the comparative values of these supplements for young pigs.

An assessment of the nutritive value of vegetable protein meals for growing pigs using Silcock available lysine values

The effects on the growth performance of pigs and the total and Silcock available lysine content of diets were studied when an equal amount of protein from rapeseed meal and soyabean meal, either expeller or solvent extracted, was included in diets based on wheat and meat and bone meal and fed in restricted amounts to 32 pigs from 20 to 45 kg liveweight. The total and available lysine content of the proteins and diets decreased in the order: solvent extracted soyabean meal, expeller extracted soyabean meal, expeller extracted rapeseed meal, solvent extracted rapeseed meal. The growth rates and food conversion ratios of pigs varied in the same order, and average growth rate and average food conversion were significantly correlated to both total lysine (r2 = 0.910, r2 = 0.918 respectively) and available lysine (r2 = 0.998, r2 = 0.998 respectively) in the diet. The weights of the thyroid glands of pigs fed either rapeseed meal were significantly greater than those of pigs fed the soyabean meals.'Pigs fed solvent extracted soyabean meal had more lean in their hams than pigs fed other supplements.

RAPESEED MEAL AS A PROTEIN SOURCE IN THE STARTER CONCENTRATE FOR REPLACEMENT CALVES

Two trials were carried out to assess the extent to which commercial, prepressed, solvent-extracted rapeseed meal could be substituted for soybean meal in starter concentrates for replacement calves. In trial I, rapeseed meal comprised 0, 8, 16, and 24% of the mixes, but still did not replace all of the soybean meal. When offered from 10 days of age, along with a "limited" milk feeding program and dry hay, there were no significant differences (P &lt; 0.05) in feed consumption or average daily gain (ADG) to a final body weight of 114 kg. In trial II, rapeseed meal was used at three levels of replacement for protein from soybean meal: 0, 50, and 100%. This represented actual levels of rapeseed meal in the starter of 0, 14.5, and 29.8%. In addition, half the calves were fed a low-fat milk replacer and half a high-fat milk replacer. There was no significant interaction between milk replacers and the starter diets, nor did the milk replacers have any significant effect on feed intake or ADG over the whole trial to the final body weight of 114 kg. Replacement of all the soybean meal in the starter did result in a significant decrease in ADG because of lower feed intake per day. It is concluded that if a calf starter is to be pelletted it is possible to include up to 20% of rapeseed meal.

FEEDING HIGH LEVELS OF RAPESEED MEAL TO PREGNANT GILTS

Eleven crossbred gilts were allotted at random to two dietary treatments containing either 0% or 12% solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) of Chilean origin as the main source of supplemental protein in the diet. The RSM, of Brassica napus type, contained 4.1 mg isothiocyanates per g meal. The experiment, which covered the periods of pregnancy and lactation, was started immediately after mating and terminated 3 weeks after birth. Results indicated that gilts fed 12% RSM during pregnancy gained significantly less with the same feed allowance (2 kg per day) than the fish meal (FM) group. Total litter size and weight at birth were similar for both treatments. However, only 49% of the piglets were born alive from the gilts fed the 12% RSM diet; thyroid glands of live and stillborn piglets were markedly enlarged and symptoms of iodine deficiency were clearly manifested. Most pigs died within 72 hours after birth and four of the seven gilts lost their whole litter during this period. Of total pigs born to RSM-fed gilts only 13.4% survived to 3 weeks, although these individual pigs attained weaning weights similar to those of FM-fed gilts. It is concluded that RSM of the type fed when used as the main source of supplemental protein for gilts may result in a severe iodine deficiency syndrome in litters when non-iodized sodium chloride is used in the diet.

EFFECT OF METHOD OF DETERMINATION ON DIGESTIBLE ENERGY AND NITROGEN AND ON METABOLIZABLE ENERGY VALUES OF RAPESEED MEAL AND SOYBEAN MEALS FED TO GROWING PIGS

Commercial samples of solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (RM), 44% crude protein soybean meal (SM) and 50% crude protein SM were evaluated for digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), nitrogen-corrected ME (MEn) and digestible nitrogen (DN), using two methods of evaluation. A comparison of results from feeding the test meals for two different lengths of time prior to conducting the determinations was also made. Sixteen castrate male pigs were allotted to each of the two evaluation methods, with four pigs assigned to each of three treatment groups, and four pigs assigned to the basal control group for each method. The two SM samples had higher DE, ME, MEn and DN than the RM sample. The DE, ME and MEn values in kcal/g dry matter for RM were 3.37, 3.13 and 2.76, and for SM they we’re 4.42, 4.21 and 3.71, respectively. The overall mean coefficient for DN was 79.2% for RM and 92.8% for SM. There were no significant differences observed between methods or between the two time periods. The values for the basal diets were uniform throughout the trial, as indicated by low standard errors.

SOLVENT-EXTRACTED RAPESEED MEAL AS A REPLACEMENT FOR SOYBEAN MEAL IN DIETS FOR SWINE REPRODUCTION

At an average weight of 83 kg and age of 163 days, 32 gilts were allotted to four dietary treatments, 0, 4 or 8% solvent-extracted rapeseed meal (RM) throughout the experiment, or 8% RM fed for the first 100 days of gestation followed by 0% RM. The RM, of Brassica campestris origin and containing 2.40 g oxazolidinethione and 2.60 g isothiocyanates per kg meal, was added in substitution for isonitrogenous levels of soybean meal (SM) for two reproductive cycles. Feeding RM did not significantly influence daily gain or feed conversion efficiency from 83 kg to the first breeding or during the two gestation periods. No significant differences were noted in number of services to conception, length of gestation, number of pigs born or born alive, number of pigs weaned, litter birth weights or weaning weight, or pig birth weights or weaning weights. There was a trend toward reduced litter size from gilts and sows fed the diets containing RM. Changing the diet from 8% RM to 0% RM after 100 days of gestation did not influence reproductive performance. Lacombe × Yorkshire sows gained more from 83 kg live weight to the first breeding, had higher breeding weight in both gestation periods, and increased pig weaning weight for the second lactation period compared with Yorkshire sows. The latter sows had higher individual pig birth weights for the first reproductive cycle than the crossbred sows. The results indicate that a level of 8% commercial solvent-extracted RM of the type fed may be acceptable as a substitute for an isonitrogenous level of SM in the diets of gestating and lactating gilts and sows.

Biological evaluation of rapeseed meal, soya-bean meal and casein fed to the weanling and the mature rat.

1. The biological evaluation of solvent and prepress-solvent processed rapeseed meals RM(S) and RM(PS) was carried out with the weanling (phase 1) and the mature (phase 2) rat. The nutritional indices measured were compared with those for diets containing soyabean meal SM and casein CS.2. The true nitrogen digestibility (td(N)) for RM(S), RM(PS), SM and CS in the weanling rat was (%) 78.9 f±1.2, 77.9±2.7, 90.4±0.9 and 96.0±0.6 (P &lt; 0.01) respectively. Net protein utilization was (%) 68.9±10.1, 65.6±3.5, 80.6±4.8 and 81.7±3.1 (P &lt; 0.05) respectively. Biological value was (%) 83.0±7.9, 84.1±5.6, 8.90±5.1 and 85.0±3.4 (P &lt; 0.05) respectively. The same indices when measured in the mature rat showed an increase over those obtained in the weanling rat.3. The growth-promoting effects of the test diets were evaluated over a period of 8 weeks withad lib. feeding between phases 1 and 2. Protein efficiency ratio averaged 2.0±0.14, 1.9±0.35, 2.4±0.39 and 2.3±0.25 for the RM(S), RM(PS), SM and CS treatments respectively.4. The daily endogenous urinary N excretion was 1.58±0.14 mg N/basal kcal or 254 mg N/kg body-weight for the weanling rat and 0.16 mg N/basal kcal or 18 mg N/kg body-weight for the mature rat. Metabolic faecal N excretion was 98.0±9.3 mg N/kg body-weight, or 27.9% of the total N output for the weanling rat, and 37.9±7.2 mg N/kg body-weight, or 67.3% of the total N output for the mature rat during the ‘protein-free’ feeding periods.5. The fresh weight of the thyroid gland per kg metabolic body size was 70, 90, 40 and 40 mg respectively for the RM(S), RM(PS), SM and CS dietary treatments.6. The moisture content of the carcasses was 66.9±3.1, 63.6±2.3 and 64.2±2.2 and the protein content on a dry-matter basis was 55.9±9.6, 50.2±6.4 and 53.1±4.9 for the RM (S and PS), SM and CS diets respectively. The results suggest an increased lean body mass in the rats receiving the rapeseed meal treatments.7. Under the conditions of this experiment solvent-extracted rapeseed meal was superior to prepress-solvent meal on the basis of rat growth response and of results for nutritional indices. Both rapeseed meals were inferior to soya-bean meal and casein.