Sunflower Meal

Sunflower Meal
Sunflower meal is a byproduct of crushing sunflower seed for oil. The nutrient content of SFM varies with the processing method used for extracting the oil. Solvent extracted SFM has higher concentrations of protein and lower concentrations of oil and fiber compared with mechanically extracted SFM. Dehulled SFM will have slightly higher protein concentrations and less fiber. The protein in SFM is more soluble than SBM (34 versus 17% 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.

When fed diets supplemented with either SFM or SBM, lactating dairy cows consumed similar amounts of DM and produced equal amounts of milk with similar concentrations of fat and protein. Body weight gain and DM intake are similar for replacement dairy heifers fed diets supplemented with either SBM or SFM. Because the mechanically extracted SFM has higher oil concentrations, the amount fed should be limited to no more than 20% of the total dietary DM to avoid any negative impact from the residual oil.