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Tips For Feeding Palm Kernel Expeller Meal

With drought and dwindling feed options, many farmers are looking at sourcing uncommonly used feeds for dairy cattle of all ages.

By Department of Primary Industries - 14th December 2006 - Back to News

DPI Ellinbank’s Pasture and Fodder Conservation specialist, Frank Mickan says one main feed of interest is Palm Kernel Expeller meal (PKE).

"Unfortunately, rumours about the dangers and uncertainties of feeding PKE have caused much needless anxiety and missed opportunities for many farmers," says Frank.

"Yes, there are the odd issues with these feeds, but they are very minor if the feeds are managed with some simple guidelines."

This article is designed to allay some of these fears, to alert you to some aspects that do need to be considered and provide some helpful feeding hints from various sources.

Palm Kernel Expeller meal (PKE), sometimes called Palm Kernel Meal or Palm Kernel Cake, is a by-product of the palm oil industry in South East Asia, mainly from Malaysia.

PKE is the palm nut and fibrous layer around the nut after the palm nut oil is extracted although the final product may contain approximately 8 per cent oil.

It is a dry gritty material so access the water is essential. Placing the PKE supply away from the water trough, and other supplements such as cereal hay, will help ensure intake of PKE is moderated with other fodder sources on offer.

PKE is less palatable than other feeds, but by mixing will very small amounts of molasses, silage or grain with it, the animals will more quickly "develop" a taste for it.

Alternatively allow for a longer lead in time and intake of PKE will increase over the first 5-7 days.

PKE is a source of moderate to high energy (Metabolisable Energy or ME) and protein, and does not vary greatly from the average analyses (See Table 1).

PKE contains an oil level of about 8.0-10 % and this oil is a saturated fat which should not cause rumen function problems.

Overseas analyses all give PKE an analysis of about 11.0 – 11.5 ME and are reinforced by milk production verifying this when used in rations. Some Australian laboratories are currently sourcing suitable overseas methods to more accurately determine the ME of PKE in Australia.

If PKE is made available in troughs, trailer or hay feeders (with a skirt), cows will start to consume up to 1 – 2 kg DM/cow/day over about a week. If feeding with maize silage, include about 0.25 kg DM/cow/day building up to the desired level over a week or more to prevent cows decreasing their maize intakes.

Intakes of PKE can be higher (~ 6 kg DM) than stated above, but high levels of milk production may not be sustained. Despite the high NDF recorded in Table 1, the very small particle size of PKE really means that it has low effective fibre, more akin to about an NDF of 30%, but won’t lead to acidosis as explained below.

PKE is very low in starch and sugars (most of the energy coming from the oil, protein and digestible fibre), so cows are highly unlikely to show any signs of acidosis from ad-lib PKE.

Being a finely ground product PKE should be fed with a long fibre source to prevent "compaction" in the rumen. PKE can be used for calves once weaned, but due to its lowish protein levels should not be offered pre-weaning. Its composition renders it more suited to yearling aged cattle and can be self fed in feeders or trailers thereby requiring less time and labour for feeding out.

It is an ideal feed when fed with silage, cereal hay or similar supplement for young stock, as long as you don’t forget the water! If possible situate these away from the PKE to encourage drinking and ensures a mix of longer fibre with the PKE.

Table 1. Nutritive value of palm kernel expeller meal (Range in brackets)

*Effective fibre equivalent to about 30% NDF

Mineral content is within accepted ranges, but the Calcium:phosphorous ratio is low, as is sodium, so calcium and sodium may need to be supplemented if PKE is fed at high levels; and particularly when fed with maize silage.

There are some unknowns about the storage and feeding of PKE. It will become mouldy very quickly and must be kept dehydrated by storing in a dry situation. It is important to note that the fungi that produce the mould may generate aflatoxins that can be toxic to stock and contaminate milk. Be aware also that it can also be blown away by strong wind.

If stored in a silo, the sides should be smooth, the bottom cone steep and, preferably, a wide opening allow free flow of the PKE. If possible, mixing the PKE with grain, for example 10% crushed barley, will allow better flow and substantially encourage intakes.

Some silos have corners or ledges towards the base of the cone, which can cause the PKE to lodge. Some farmers rebuild their "boot" to do away with this ledge to minimise or avoid lodging. Any vibration of the silo cone, such as tapping it with a rubber mallet, will assist flow into the bottom auger.

Some New Zealand farmers have found that by adding a "Bocce" ball on top of the auger(s), at the base of silo, will cause enough vibration to keep the PKE flowing. This is not suitable for silos using a cordless auger system.

Wetting the feed with water or diluted molasses in the bail will reduce dust and encourage consumption.

There is some concern that the PKE may build up in the corners of feeding systems in herringbone delivery systems. This is an unknown and I would appreciate some feedback about this for future use of PKE. PKE should not be a problem in most rotary sheds where the feed usually drops vertically.

For more information or to provide feedback about PKE, please contact Frank Mickan at DPI Ellinbank on 5624 2259.

Other information is available by phoning the DPI Drought Information line on 136 186 or visiting www.dpi.vic.gov.au/drought.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com