Performance Parameters, Plasma Lipid Status, and Lymphoid Tissue Fatty Acid Profile of Broiler Chicks Fed Camelina Cake

Camelina sativa (L. Crantz) products; an alternative feed ingredient for poultry diets with its nutritional and physiological consequences

Due to increased demand for common feedstuffs such as corn, soybean and fish meals for poultry diets, the search for alternative sources of energy and protein for feed production could help to reduce production costs in the commercial poultry industry. Camelina sativa might be considered a new source of protein, energy and n-3 fatty acids (FA) in poultry diets. The oil content of camelina seeds (CS) is about 35 to 40%. Approximately 50% of this oil is composed of polyunsaturated FA. Moreover, camelina meal (CM) has 16% crude fat. The major n-3 FA of CS and CM is α-linolenic acid (about 30%) which is considered to be nutritionally important. The oil contains other bio-active compounds such as γ-tocopherol, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Camelina seeds and meal can produce 6258 and 5110 kcal/kg of gross energy, 245-292 and 315-398 g/kg crude protein and 248 and 127 g/kg crude fibre, respectively. However, CS and CM contain 21.77 and 28.08 μmol/g glucosinolates and 12.10 and 12.93 TIU /mg trypsin inhibitors, respectively as anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) that can affect poultry performance adversely. Overall, dietary inclusion of camelina products will supply energy and protein for bird, enhance the antioxidant capacity and lipid stability of poultry products and provide health-promoting n-3 FA and tocopherol rich-foods to humans. However, raw CS contains some ANFs, and its maximum safe level (MSL) is 5% meal or seed, and 2% oil for all type of birds. Hence, it is necessary to establish suitable techniques for removing anti-nutritional factors from CS and increase its MSL in poultry diets.

Cold-Pressed Oilseed Cakes as Alternative and Sustainable Feed Ingredients: A Review

Due to the increasing demand for alternative protein feed ingredients, the utilization of oilseed by-products in animal nutrition has been sought as a promising solution to ensure cheap and environmentally sustainable feedstuffs. This review aimed to summarize the nutritional value of six cold-pressed cakes (rapeseed, hempseed, linseed, sunflower seed, camelina seed, and pumpkin seed) and the effects of their inclusion in diet for ruminant, pig, and poultry on nutrient digestibility, growth and productive performance, and quality of the products. The presented results indicated that these unconventional feed ingredients are a good protein and lipid source and have a balanced amino acid and fatty acid profile. However, contradictory results of animal production performances can be found in the literature depending on the cake type and chemical composition, dietary inclusion level, animal category, and trial duration. Due to the substantial amount of essential fatty acid, these cakes can be efficiently used in the production of animal products rich in n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, the utilization of cakes in pig and poultry nutrition is limited because of the presence of antinutritive factors that can deteriorate feed intake and nutrient utilization.

Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) as Feedstuffs in Meat Type Poultry Diet: A Source of Protein and n-3 Fatty Acids

Camelina seed or seed processing derivatives, i.e., cake, are cheap alternative protein feed ingredients for meat type poultry. Camelina is an oilseed crop containing 36.8% oil in seeds, while in the cake the oil content accounts for 6.4-22.7%. If compared with other Brassicaceae family plants, camelina is distinguished by a unique fatty acid composition, because the content of α-linolenic fatty acid (C18:3n-3; ALA) varies from 25.9 to 36.7% of total fatty acids. The total tocopherol content in camelina oil and cake are, respectively, 751-900 and 687 mg/kg. Addition of camelina to poultry nutrition increases the amount of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in poultry meat and liver. The content of ALA in chicken muscles increases by 1.3-4.4, 2.4-2.9 and 2.3-7.2 times after supplementing chicken diets with, respectively, camelina cake (8-24%), seed (10%), and oil (2.5-6.9%) in comparison with the control group. Camelina cake (5-25%), seed (10%) and oil (2.5-4%) inclusion in chicken diets results in 1.5-3.9 times higher total n-3 PUFA content in muscles and liver. Meanwhile, supplementation of chicken diets with camelina oil (4-6.9%), seed (5-10%) and cake (5-25%) results in, respectively, a 1.8-8.4, 1.6-1.9 and 1.3-2.9 times lower n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in muscles, and 3.29 times lower n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in the liver. After inclusion of different amounts of camelina cake in chicken diets, a healthy for human nutrition n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio from 1.6 to 2.9 was found in chicken muscles.

Nutritive value of Serbian camelina genotypes as an alternative feed ingredient

Camelina has been used from ancient times, but recently has re-emerged as a valuable plant with the potential for successful replacement of conventional oilseed crops. The utilisation of camelina and its by-products in animal feed is a matter of scientific study due to their excellent nutritional potential. The present study aimed to investigate the nutritive value of two Serbian camelina seed genotypes (NS Zlatka and NS Slatka) as a potential alternative to commonly used oilseed crops in animal feeding. For that purpose proximate composition, fatty acid profile, amino acid profile and tocopherols were analysed. The study also included the investigation of the content of anti-nutritive compounds that can adversely affect the nutritional value of feed. The results showed that camelina seeds had a high amount of proteins (around 28%), amino acids and gtocopherols. Camelina genotypes were characterized by unique fatty acids composition, with its oil consisting of approximately 57% polyunsaturated fatty acids, of which the highest proportions were a-linolenic acid (~37%) and linoleic acid (~17%). An optimal ratio of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (0.5) was also reported in this study. The concentration of anti-nutritional factors and heavy metals in camelina seeds was below the maximum set limit for feedstuff. To conclude, the investigated Serbian camelina genotypes can be used as a valuable source of proteins, essential fatty acids and tocopherols in animal nutrition and has a great potential to replace conventional oilseeds.