Description

Sunflower Meal

Sunflower meal is byproduct of crushing sunflower seed for oil. The nutrient content of SFM varies with the type of processing used for extracting the oil. Solvent extracted SFM has higher concentrations of protein and lower concentrations of oil and fiber compared with mechanical extracted SFM. Dehulled SFM will have slightly higher protein concentrations and less fiber. The protein in SFM is more soluble than SBM (*4 vs *7% of N, respectively), but processes such as extrusion decreases solubility. Without processing to reduce solubility greater proportions of the dietary nitrogen provided by SFM is degraded by the ruminal microorganisms. Microbial protein synthesis is improved with SFM compared with blood meal or corn gluten meal so that total flow of nitrogen to the duodenum is similar. The lysine content of SFM is lower than that provided by SBM, CSM, or CM which could limit the potential milk yield response in very high producing lactating cows.