Oilseeds for livestock

In addition to human consumption, oilseeds are also widely used in animal nutrition. These seeds and their resulting meals are a rich source of protein, energy, and essential fatty acids that play an important role in growth, milk production, increasing meat quality, and improving animal health.

After extracting oil from seeds such as soybeans, rapeseed, cottonseed, sunflower, and sesame, a meal remains that is rich in vegetable protein. These meals are used in livestock, poultry, and aquatic animal diets and are considered one of the most important sources of protein in the livestock industry. For example, soybean meal has high-quality protein and optimal digestibility and is widely used in feeding dairy cows, laying hens, and broilers.

Also, limited and controlled consumption of some whole grains, such as flaxseed or sunflower, can improve the levels of beneficial fatty acids such as omega-3 in milk and meat. This is effective in increasing the nutritional value of livestock products for humans. It is widely used in laying and meat-producing animals.

The use of oilseeds and their products in livestock nutrition helps reduce production costs and increases productivity in livestock units. Of course, attention to quality, consumption rate, and nutritional balance is essential to prevent digestive problems or metabolic disorders in livestock.

Given the economic and nutritional benefits, developing oilseed cultivation and using them in the livestock industry can play an important role in the country’s food sustainability and self-sufficiency.