Sunflower meal in poultry diets: a review

Sunflower meal (SFM) has the potential to be a major feed ingredient for po ultry in many countries not suitable for extensive soyabean cultivation. SF M is a good source of protein with amino acid availabilities similar to tho se of soyabean meal (SBM), and much higher than those in cottonseed or rape seed meals. Its lysine content is relatively low but this can be resolved w ith supplemental lysine. Fibre content should be decreased to a minimum by dehulling during processing of the sunflower seed for oil extraction. Fibre (>12%) can still cause bulky feed at higher inclusion rates (> 30%), and a s a result dietary nutrient dilution (particularly in broiler diets) may oc cur. Nevertheless, pelleting the diet can help overcome the bulkiness and t hereby lead to improved growth and feed efficiency. Another characteristic of SFM is that it does not have anti-nutritional factors such as those foun d in soyabean, cottonseed and rapeseed meals. Enzyme supplementation to SFM -based diets in different types of poultry species need further study The i ngredient can successfully be included in layer, broiler and waterfowl diet s to replace 50-100% of soyabean meal, depending on the type of diet and th e nature of the other ingredients.