Nutrient Composition of Peanut Meal

Solvent-extracted peanut meal is receiving increased attention as a feed ingredient for poultry. Due to limited availability, levels of inclusion in US broiler diets are generally from 3 to 4%. Because the origin of nutrient values for peanut meal reported in standard tables of nutrient composition is unclear, a study was undertaken to document the nutrient composition of peanut meal samples currently available to the poultry industry. Seventeen samples of peanut meal were obtained during 2003 from commercial sources in the southeastern United States. Each sample was analyzed for proximate composition, TMEn, and mineral composition. Seven representative samples were analyzed for total and available amino acid contents. All values were adjusted to a 90% dry matter basis, this being representative of the meals evaluated in this study. Although considerable variation was noted between sources, a reasonable consistency was observed among samples from each of the 5 suppliers, presumably reflecting modest differences in processing procedure. Nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy ranged from 2,273 to 3,009 kcal/kg with a mean of 2,664 kcal/kg, whereas CP ranged from 40.1 to 50.9% with a mean of 45.6%. Mean values for fat, fiber, and ash were 2.5, 8.3, and 5.0%, respectively. Total concentration and percentage availability, respectively, of several critical amino acids were: lysine, 1.54% (85); methionine, 0.52% (87); cystine, 0.64% (78); threonine, 1.17% (81); and arginine, 5.04% (90). Average levels of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium were 0.08, 0.57, 0.01, and 1.22%, respectively. The variation observed among samples strongly indicates that confirmatory analyses should be conducted prior to use of samples from a new supplier.