Palm Kernel Cake

A) Palm Kernel Cake (PKC)

PKC is a useful source of protein and energy for livestock and it is commonly used in animal feed especially ruminants. Good quality PKC has strong coffee aroma

Almost all exported PKC from Malaysia is used in dairy cow feed. PKC is also suitable for use in feed formulation for pigs, poultry and horses

1) Cattle

PKC can be fed up to 90% of the total ration without any adverse effect provided that the diet is well balanced. Optimum level of inclusion in beef cattle is 55% with live weight gain (LWG) of about 0.7 kg/day

Kelantan steers were fed 50% PKC and 50% POME (Palm OIl Mill Effluent) gained about 0.6 kg/day and Brahman crossbred steers were fed 70% PKC for a period of 120 days and gained 0.8 kg/day

Formula

PKC                             : 80%

Grass/ Hay               : 17.5%

seashell powder     : 1.5%

Premix                       : 1%

2) Milk Cattle

PKC is often used as a source of energy and fibre for diary livestock. Recommended level of inclusion is 50% of the total ration. Under Malaysian local condition, milk yield of 10-12 litre/head/day can be achieved. With good formulation, higher yield can be expected.

PKC                             : 50%

molasses                   : 5%

Grass/ Hay               : 42%

Seashell Powder     : 1.5%

salt                              : 5%

Premix                       : 1%

3) Poultry

The use of PKC in poultry diets is limited. This is attributed to low digestibility of PKC in poultry. Recommended feeding level is 20% in layer and broiler diets

Broiler

PKC                             : 20%

Palm oil                     : 6%

Maize                         : 39.8%

Soyabean meal       : 25%

Fishmeal                   : 5%

seashell powder     : 1.5%

salt                              : 0.25%

Premix                       : 0.3%

DL-methiomine       : 0.15%

Layer

PKC                             : 20%

Palm oil                     : 2%

Maize                         : 45.4%

Soyabean meal       : 14.5%

Fishmeal                   : 7%

seashell powder     : 8.5%

premix                       : 0.3%

salt                              : 0.3%

Lucene leaf meal    : 2%

4) Sheep

Optimum level of PKC inclusion in sheep diet is 30%. Higher level of feeding ( 50% and above) can be practised but precaution is needed to avoid copper toxicity.

PKC                             : 96.2%

salt                              : 1%

seashell powder     : 2.8%

ammonium Molybdate : 5.2 mg/kg

Sodium sulphate    : 440 mg/kg