camelina-animal-feed

Considering the high demand for maize and other oil crops for biofuel production, finding alternative sources of energy could reduce production costs. Camelina sativa is an oilseed crop of the Brassica family that is emerging as an important biofuel crop. Nutrient composition of camelina meal indicates that the meal has 36–40 percent crude protein, 11–12 percent fat, and 4600 Kcal/ kg gross energy. The fat in camelina meal is rich in D-linolenic acid (~30 percent), the parent fatty acid of the health-promoting omega-3 family, and γ-tocopherol, an antioxidant vitamin. In addition, camelina contains other bio-active compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic products. Therefore, incorporating camelina in poultry diets will: (1) provide energy and protein to the birds, (2) provide health-promoting omega-3 fatty acids and tocopherolrich-foods to humans, (3) improve the antioxidant activity and lipid stability of poultry products, and (4) increase the market value of the crop. Feeding trials aimed at evaluating the optimum amounts of camelina meal in feed for meat-type broilers and egg laying hens were conducted.