A note on the use of rapeseed, sunflower and soyabean meals as protein sources in compound foods for milking cattle

Rapeseed, sunflower and soya-bean meals were compared as the main sources of protein in concentrate supplements given to dairy cattle. The supplements contained (per kg) 620 g rapeseed meal, 760 g sunflower meal or 500 g soya-bean meal and all three were formulated to contain 300 g protein per kg. Each animal was given daily TO kg dairy compound, 3·5 kg supplement, 3·5 kg sugar-beet pulp pellets and offered maize silage ad libitum. A randomized-block design with 39 cattle was used and treatments were applied for 16 weeks. All three supplements were eaten rapidly and there were no refusals. Daily mean milk yields were rapeseed 26·7, sunflower 25·3 and soya bean 25·1 (s.e.d. 1·44) kg; milk fat and protein concentrations were not affected by the treatments. There were no significant treatment differences in live weight and condition score. It was concluded that these high protein supplements based on rapeseed meal, sunflower meal and soya-bean meal were of equal feeding value for milk production.