Crambe Meal Protein and Hulls in Beef Cattle Rations

THE need for agricultural diversification with additional alternative crops and for a supply of new raw materials to industry has led to the investigation of wild plant species as possible crops. Crambe abyssinica, a member of the mustard family, has potential as an oil-producing crop; however, its success may depend upon the use that can be made of the by-products. The main by-products from Crambe abyssinica are the hulls from the seed and the meal after the oil has been extracted from the seed. Physical and chemical characteristics of the by-products as described by the Agricultural Research Service (1962) indicate they may be used as feed ingredients. The meal contains up to 49% crude protein of good quality as indicated by essential amino acid composition (Miller et al., 1962). The purpose of this research was to study the use of crambe meal and hulls as sources of protein and roughage, respectively, in beef cattle rations.