Ruminal degradation of dry matter, crude protein and fiber fraction of oilseed byproducts

The objective was to evaluate the rumen degradability of dry matter, crude protein and fiber fraction of some oilseed byproducts. Oilseed byproducts evaluated were: Sunflower Meal, Cotton Cake and Castor Bean Cake. The rumen degradability test was performed following a split plot randomized complete block design with three treatments (plots) and seven incubation times (subplots) and six blocks (animals). The readily soluble fraction of the dry matter of sunflower meal was 35.0% higher than the same fraction of cotton cake and castor bean cake (mean 24.46%, P < 0.01). The highest potential degradability of crude protein (P < 0.01) was verified in castor bean cake (96.90%, 5% rate of passage). Sunflower meal had the lowest insoluble fraction of the fiber fraction, 34.4%, compared to cotton cake and castor bean cake, with 64.4% and 39.4%, respectively (P < 0.01). Sunflower meal had the highest fiber effective degradability (25.2%). Sunflower meal presented better values of ruminal parameters of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber in relation to the other byproducts.