Rubber Seeds, Oil and Meal

Continued protein shortages for human and animal nutrition have forced many tropical countries to look seriously at local protein sources with a view to highlighting those which have a potential for future development. Interest in the use of rubber seeds as a livestock feed was kindled in the 1960s and 1970s by researchers in Southeast Asia (Gick et al., 1967; Le Thouc, 1968; Buvanendran and Siriwardene, 1970; Siriwardene and Nugara, 1972) and elsewhere (Orok and Bowland, 1974; Fetuga et al., 1977). In spite of these investigations, rubber seed meal is still not used to any appreciable extent in livestock feeds. Tonnes of rubber seeds are shed annually and germinate on plantation floors. The resulting trees are usually just slashed down and provide little or nothing in the way of animal feed. However, based on its nutrient analyses, it would appear that defatted rubber seed meal has considerable potential for use as a protein supplement in diets fed to both monogastric and ruminant animals.