Palm kernel meal is easier to understand next to the feeds it works beside. Typical analyses:
- Crude protein: palm kernel meal 16 to 18%, soybean meal 44 to 48%, maize 8 to 10%, sunflower meal 30 to 35%.
- Crude fibre: palm kernel meal 17 to 20%, soybean meal 3 to 7%, maize 2 to 3%, sunflower meal 18 to 25%.
- Fat: palm kernel meal 6 to 8%, soybean meal 1 to 2%, maize 3 to 4%, sunflower meal 1 to 3%.
What the numbers say
Soybean meal is the protein feed. Maize is the energy feed. Palm kernel meal sits between them: some protein, some energy and a lot of fibre. It cannot replace the soybean for protein, but in a ruminant ration it can take the place of part of the maize and part of the soybean at once.
Where it helps
Soybean and maize are seasonal and move in price with harvests, weather and trade. Palm kernel meal is produced through the year, so it can steady the cost of a ration. How much it saves on a given day depends on the price of each feed, so work it out with your nutritionist for your ration and your prices.
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