Af. Mustafa et al., EFFECT OF BORAGE MEAL ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE OF RUMINANTS AND PIGS, Animal feed science and technology, 64(2-4), 1997, pp. 273-285
Borage meal (BM) is derived from the processing of borage (Borago offi
cinalis) seeds, A series of experiments was conducted to determine the
nutritive value of BM as a protein supplement for ruminants and pigs.
In situ ruminal effective crude protein degradability (ECPD) was dete
rmined for BM relative to four other protein supplements using two rum
inally fistulated cows in a randomized complete block design. The prot
ein supplements used for comparsion purposes included two that are hig
h in rumen degradable protein (soybean (SBM) and canola (CM) meals) an
d two high in rumen undegradable (corn gluten (CGM) and heated canola
(HCM) meals) protein. ECPD of borage meal was intermediate to that of
the other four protein supplements studied with the following order ob
served: SBM > CM > BM > HCM > CGM. Voluntary intake (VI) and apparent
nutrient digestibility coefficients and digestible energy (DE) content
of barley grain and dehydrated alfalfa based diets containing graded
levels of BM (0, 6, 12 and 18%) were determined in a completely random
ized design using 16 growing lambs. No effect (P > 0.05) of BM inclusi
on rate was observed on VI, nutrient digestibility coefficients and DE
values. In two experiments with swine, BM was included at 0, 10, 20,
30, and 40% in grower diets and 0, 6.75, 13.5, 20.25 and 27% in finish
er diets. Both rate and efficiency of gain were depressed in a linear
fashion (P < 0.05) as the level of BM in the diet increased. Digestibi
lity coefficients for dry matter, crude protein and gross energy also
declined linearly (P < 0.05) as dietary BM increased. It was concluded
that BM has potential as a protein supplement for ruminants. However,
results of the pig experiments showed poor performance when BM was in
cluded in grower and finisher diets.