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Comparative Feeding Value of Alfalfa Press Cake Residues after Mechanical Extraction of Protein¹

US Department of Agriculture, Berkeley, CA 94710 and and University of California, Davis 95616

Abstract

Digestion and feeding trials were conducted with lambs to investigate the feeding value of mechanically dewatered alfalfa. This material is the press cake produced when ground alfalfa is processed into leaf protein concentrate (LPC). Two types of press cake were studied: (1) regular press cake (PC), dried immediately after pressing and (2) press cake (PCBJ) dried after the addition of alfalfa solubles from the LPC isolation process. Compared with unpressed alfalfa (control), all PC samples were lower (P<.05) in crude protein, ash and ether extract, and higher (P<.05) in crude fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin and cellulose. Analytical values for PCBJ were somewhat closer to the control values than were those for PC. All PC and PCBJ samples had lower (P<.05) protein digestibility (12%) than dehydrated unpressed alfalfa but higher (P<.05) cellulose digestibility (10 to 15%). Digestible energy of PC and PCBJ averaged only 6.5% less than that of unpressed material (P<.05), even though the pressing operation removed over 30% of the original dry matter. A 69-d feeding experiment revealed differences (P<.05) in performance characteristics between lambs fed whole alfalfa and those fed PC, but not between lambs fed whole alfalfa and those fed PCBJ. Ammoniation of PC pellets with anhydrous ammonia raised (P<.05) the crude protein content by 37% and increased (P<.05) cellulose digestibility by 10%.

¹ Reference to a company and(or) product is for purposes of information and does not imply approval or recommendation of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable.

² ARS, Western Regional Research Center, Berkeley, CA 94710.

³ Dept. of Anim. Sci.

⁴ The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Dr. Bruce Mackey, ARS Regional Biometrician for statistical evaluation of data.