Palm kernel cake (PKC): a potential high energy feed for farm animals

Palm Kernel Cake (PKC): A Potential High Energy Feed for
Farm Animals
Mohammad Amizi A1*, Mohammed Alimul Islam2, Connie Fay Komilus2 & Assis
Kamu2
1

Integrated Agrotechnology and Resource Management (IATReM) Research
Center UITM (Perlis)
*Email: amizi547@perlis.uitm.edu.my
2
School of Sustainable Agriculture, University Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 90000
Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract
Production of PKC in Malaysia is in abundance throughout the year and has
increased more than 43% since 1999 (1.62 million metric tonnes) to 2011 (2.39 million
metric tonnes) respectively. Palm kernel cake (PKC) is a protein source leftover from
pressed nuts of the palm fruit. PKC is rich in both protein (16-18%) and energy (914 MJ/Kg) and is regarded as a potential protein source of farm animals feed. This
paper discussed on the rate of energy conversion, cost effectiveness and availability
of PKC as a supplementary food ingredient for ruminants, non-ruminants and fishes.
Price comparison between soybean cake and PKC showed that soybean cake cost

550.0 US$/MT while PKC is 150 US$/MT. This difference indicated that PKC is a
reasonably good economic feed for better growth and fattening rate to farm animals
(cattle, sheep, goat, pig, chicken and ducks) and farm fishes (cat fish and other).
Countries in Asia, Asia-Pacific, South America and Africa are presently using PKC
as an alternative feed for various farm animals. PKC is rich in protein, due to bioconversion effects which doubled the nutritive value and protein concentration of
PKC to 32% protein. Besides that, PKC is highly palatable for ruminants, nonruminants and fishes because of its distinctive carbohydrate source namely 56.4%
mannose, 11.66% glucose, 3.77% xylose and 1.4% galactose. PKC has high fibre
content (16%), high phosphorus to calcium ratio and other essential elements like
magnesium, iron and zinc recommended in animal optimal growth. A value-added
quality of PKC is that it is free from Aflatoxins and other toxins of E.Coli, S.aureus
and Salmonellaspp., that could be harmful for animal growth and productivity. Its
sufficient concentration of vitamin E, acts as natural anti-oxidants which helpsin
synthesizing female reproductive hormones. As a supplement of high energy feed,
PKC can be used under various concentrations for different farm animals such as,
for beef cattle up to 90%, dairy cattle 50%, swine 25-30%, poultry 20-25%, sheep
and goat 30-40% and fish 20-30% of total ration. Therefore, this paper will provide

Proceeding of the 2nd International Seminar on Animal Industry | Jakarta, 5-6 July 2012

479

an outlook of PKC as a potential feed source that may meet the requirements as an
alternative feed ingredient for farm animals and fishes.
Key words: energy conversion and cost effective, farm animals, palm kernel cake
(PKC), protein concentration

Introducton
The ol palm ndustry n Malaysa has expanded rapdly from 60,000 ha n
1964 and reached 5 mllon hectares n 2011 and ncreased 3% from 4.85 mllon
hectares recorded n prevous year (MPOB, 2011). Therefore the palm kernel cake
also ncreased 6.5% from 2.22 mllon tons n 2006 to 2.39 mllon tons n 2011
(MPOB 2011). Most of Palm kernel cake was exported to European Unon Countres and Chna, whch represents 93% of the total producton of palm kernel cake
n Malaysa. Most of the EU countres consumed the palm kernel cake as potental
lvestock feed for dary cattle ndustry. The exports of palm kernel cake were ncreased 910,000 metrc tons to 2.39 mllon metrc tons n 2011 to the European
Unon Countres and Chna (MPOB 2010).

Lterature Study
The palm kernel cake s the bomass resdue whch obtaned from the crushng of palm kernels to extract the kernel ol .The palm kernel was crushng wth 2
methods dependng on the sze of the plant throughput whch s shown n the fgure
1 (Yusoff, 2000). The mechancal method was usng the tradtonal method whch

needs hgher power consumpton and has hgh mantenance cost due to wear and
tear of the screw expeller. Normally the palm kernel wth low capacty s sutable
wth ths method. The other method for crushng the palm kernel s the solvent extracton method. Ths method was used only wth hgh capacty of palm kernel. The
ol resdue n the palm kernel cake s about 1% compared to the mechancal method
where the ol resdue left n the screw expeller more than 6%.
The nutrton value n (Palm Kernel Cake) PKC contans 16-18% of crude
proten, 13-16% crude fbber, 4-6% fat and the metabolsable energy estmated
at10.3MJ/kg. The avalable nutrent contan of Palm Kernel Cake s a sutable and
valuable source of feed for rumnants (Yeong et al., 1981). The growth performance
of varous breed of cattle wth 100% of palm kernel cake and the combnaton wth
other raton ngredents contrbute the average daly gan weght ranges 0.5-1.2 kg/
head/day and the Droughtmaster cattle contrbute average daly gan weght(ADGW)
at the rate 0.75kg//head/day at small holder feedlot model (Jelan et al., 1991).

480

Proceeding of the 2nd International Seminar on Animal Industry | Jakarta, 5-6 July 2012

Fgure



1

Sources: Yusof , M.S.A (2000)
274&(5 #752)

 




Dscusson

+(
1764,6,21
8$/7(
,1 $/0 (41(/ $.( 
&216$,15

2)
&47'(
3426(,1


&47'(
),%%(4

)$6
$1'
6+(
0(6$%2/,5$%/(
(1(4*; (56,0$6('
$6

 .*
+(
$8$,/$%/(
1764,(16
The palm kernel cake can be consdered as relable supply compared to the
&216$,1
2) $/0
(41(/
$.(
,5
$
57,6$%/(
$1'
8$/7$%/(
5274&(
2)
)(('
)24
470,1$165
#(21*
(6
other by product. The other advantageous of palm kernel cake are lower cost com$/


+( *4296+
3(4)240$1&(
2)
8$4,275
%4(('
2)
&$66/(
9,6+



2)

3$/0
.(41(/
&$.(
pared to Soya bean Meal. Prce comparson between soybean cake and PKC showed
$1'
6+(
&20%,1$6,21
9,6+
26+(4
4$6,21
,1*4(',(165
&2164,%76(
6+(
$8(4$*(
'$,/;
*$,1
9(,*+6
4$1*(5
that soybean cake cost 550.0 US$/MT whle PKC s 150 US$/MT (Ayob et al.,

.* +($' '$;
$1'
6+(
427*+60$56(4
&$66/(
&2164,%76(
$8(4$*(
'$,/;
*$,1
9(,*+6"
2011). Ths dfference ndcated that PKC s a reasonably good economc feed for
$6
6+(
4$6(

.* +($' '$;
$6
50$//
+2/'(4
)(('/26
02'(/

(/$1
(6
$/


better growth and fattenng rate to farm anmals (cattle, sheep, goat, pg, chcken
and ducks) and fshes (cat fsh and other). The PKC s free from aflatoxns and safe
for anmal . In addtons the PKC are also free from pestcde, chemcals, heavy met,5&755,21
als and doxns (Codjo, 1995). The PKC s dffcult to become moldy due to hgh
dry matter content encourages the growth mcroorgansms. PKC also very palatable +(
+(
3$/0
.(41(/
&$.(
&$1
%(
&215,'(4('
$5
4(/,$%/(
5733/;
&203$4('
62
6+(
26+(4
%;
342'7&6

and $'8$16$*(275

contan hgh 2)

vtamn
whch

acts$4(

as /29(4

natural&256

ant-oxdants
helps
n%($1

the synthess
26+(4

3$/0
E
.(41(/

&$.(

&203$4('
62

2;$

($/
4,&(
of
female
reproductve
hormones.
The
value

added
characterstc
qualty
s
the
PKC
&203$4,521
%(69((1
52;%($1
&$.(
$1'

5+29('
6+$6
52;%($1
&$.(
&256



! 
are free
Aflatoxns,
other
toxns
ofE.Coli,
S.aureus ,1',&$6('

and Salmonellaspp.,
9+,/(


from
,5



!  
and

;2%
 

+,5
',))(4(1&(

6+$6

,5
$
that
could
be
harmful
for
anmal
grow
and
productvty.
4($521$%/;
*22'
(&2120,&
)(('

)24
%(66(4
*4296+
$1'
)$66(1,1*
4$6(
62
)$40
$1,0$/5
&$66/(

5+((3
*2$6
3,*
&+,&.(1
$1'
'7&.5
$1'
),5+(5

&$6
),5+
$1'
26+(4
+(
 ,5
)4((
)420
Concluson
$)/$62:,15

$1'
5$)(
)24
$1,0$/

1
$'',6,215
6+(

$4(
$/52
)4((
)420
3(56,&,'(
&+(0,&$/5

+($8;
0(6$/5
$1'
',2:,15
2'-2

+(

,5
',)),&7/6
62
%(&20(
02/';
'7(
62
+,*+
'4;
PKC s a hgh energy and proten contanng alternatve feed source for all knds
0$66(4
&216(16
(1&274$*(5
6+(
*4296+
0,&4224*$1,505

$/52
8(4;
3$/$6$%/(
$1'
&216$,1
+,*+
of
rumnant,
non-rumnant
(monogastrc)
It s
8,6$0,1

9+,&+

$&65
$5
1$674$/

$16,2:,'$165
anmals
+(/35
,1
and
6+(
fshes.
5;16+(5,5

2)
easly
)(0$/(
affordable
4(342'7&6,8(

to the small and large scale farmers all over the world and constantly avalable n
the market.

Proceeding of the 2nd International Seminar on Animal Industry | Jakarta, 5-6 July 2012

481

Table 1. PKC n Anmal and Aquaculture Feed
Beef Cattle and
Buffaloes
Incluson
80% n feed
levels n Feed
Advantage
May gve Lve
Weght Gan
of 0.6-0.8
kg/day and 11.2 kg day for
local (KedahKelantan)
and Mafrwal
respectvely
Dsadvantage -

Dary Cattle

Sheep and Goats

30-50% n feed

30%

A cow may
yeld 10-12
lters mlk/day.
Wth good
formulaton can
even gve hgher
yelds

Good and cheap
source of energy
for sheep and
goats

-

Poultry
Up to 20%

FCR of 1:0.48
was reported
for brolers fed
palm kernel
expeller (PKE)
at 35 days of
age (Onfade
and Babatunde,
1998)
Incluson of
Long-term
feedng of PKC PKC at levels
at hgh ncluson >20% was
reported to
level (>80%)
reduce egg
can cause Cu
toxcty n sheep producton and
egg qualty
(Yeong et al.,
1981)

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